Yea, I know, sucks to be me! Went out to the truck this morning to leave for work and when I tried to back out of the garage, NO BRAKES! Yikes! They were all the way to the floor before the truck actually stopped rolling. Not only that, but I couldn't turn my wheels! :eek:

So, here I sit. First, I called the closest dealer (30 miles away), to find out if they even work on the Duramax. (The dealer where I get my oil changed in town only does minor work on Duramaxes.) I am religious about oil changes and they always check the fluid levels. They called a tow truck for me (one that will be covered by the warranty) and are coming to pick it up. They are going to have to "dolly" it out of the garage, because the wheels are turned just enough to not be able to even back it out without hitting the side of the garage.

When I talked to the dealer, they said that both the brake fluid and power steering fluid "run off the same pump," so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's just a matter of a "pump" and my truck will be good to go!

The good news is that this should be covered by my 100,000 mile warranty, right?

Now, here's the strange part . . . last week, I didn't plug the truck in one night (it was -10 without the wind chill), because I didn't think I was going anywhere the next day. It turned out that I DID have an errand to run, and noticed, when I got home, that there was a small splotch of fluid on the ground where my truck had been parked. It was dark, and I thought it may have been oil blowing out from somewhere because of the cold start. (Never a good thing, to have fluids leaking!) It was time for a change, so I had it done the next day. When I had my oil changed I mentioned it to the mechanics, and they checked, but didn't see anything wrong. Now, I'm wondering if that was brake fluid, because there's no stain on the floor like there would have been if it was oil. Could it be that that pump was going bad last week? If that's the case, we were darned lucky this weekend, because we drove to Milwaukee and back for Christmas. I shudder to think what could have happened had I lost my brakes while driving 75 mph! :eek:

Anyone have any helpful thoughts on all this, I'd sure appreciate hearing it!

Julie

I tried logging in under my former user name (Mrs. Mik), and it didn't recognize my name and/or password. I've moved since last posting (a LONG time ago) and have a new e-mail address, so I couldn't request the info. I'm still the same person with the same truck!

It's a 2003 2500HD, CC, D/A, SB

Well Mrs Mik... the dealer is correct... they both work off the same pump. Sounds like something a non-diesel experienced dealership should have no trouble repairing. Don't sweat it.

Sounds like a broken powersteering pump shaft to me......

disconcerting...that should NEVER happen.

I sometimes use the footbrake to stop on the road just to remind my brain it is there if I need it.

I second that.Sounds like a broken powersteering pump shaft to me......

Blown leaking hose more than likely. Check and top off the power steering pump, Run it, and check again. Big Leaks should be obvious. SMall leaks will let get you to the dealer.

huh?

Rephrased: The power steering pump is out of fluid. Probably because of a leak. If the leak is small, the fluid should last long enough to drive to the dealer.

To refill the pump all the way, you will have to fill it, run the engine, and fill it again.

Mrs-Mik, was the truck making any kind of a growling noise when it was running? If the fluid was low in the power steering pump, it will usually growl. Also, when it is realy cold, the fluid contracts and the level goes down. So if the fluid level is just high enough to be okay when it is warm, it will often growl when cold, because the pump is sucking air. I don't understand why the brake pedal went to the floor, that would be an unrelated problem. If the power steering/power brake booster doesn't work, the pedal effort will be really hard, but it shouldn't go down any farther than usual.

"The good news is that this should be covered by my 100,000 mile warranty, right? "
If your talking about the GM warranty on the diesel engine (not a GMPP warranty) then no it won't be covered. The brake/steering system is covered by the 3yr/36K base warranty only. If your truck is under 36K miles then you are good to go, or if you bought an extended warranty then it is probably covered (depends on which extended warranty you bought). If your past 36K miles and do not have a seperate extended warranty then you are out of luck. The 100K diesel engine warranty only covers the engine and nothing else.

I would do as suggested above........ check the fluid level in the Power Steering pump and add fluid as needed to fill it up. Then check for leaks.

Put a prybar between p/s pulley and pump bracket and give the pulley a little nudge away from the pump. 99% chance it pulls out of the front of the pump because the shaft is broken inside.

Julie- THAT SUCKS. Glad your trip down south was safe and it happend at home.
Honda4us

It's the power steering pump. I had to have mine replaced after the same thing happened to me. Not fun driving in the snow with a barely maneuverable pickup truck...

Yuppers, it's the power steering pump! Here's the update:

The dealer said I had a "stuck valve" and although it's running OK right now, he wants to replace the pump. He said that it will happen again, but we don't know when or where. Obviously, living out here in the middle of nowhere, I don't want to drive a vehicle I KNOW is going to break down. He ordered the part and hopefully it will be done tomorrow. He did say that since I have only 49,000 miles on the truck, he's going to try to get it done under warranty.

Is there a TSB out there for the pump? The recall that I know about only says to replace the "hydro-boost relief valve" not the pump, so the information I have won't be enough to force GM to pay for this. If they DO refuse to pay, I'd like to go to the dealer armed with as much information as possible. I learned long ago that knowledge is power, especially when it's a woman driving a truck and dealing with warranty work!

Thanks again!

Julie

broken pump shaft. seen it many times. it will only be covered 3/36 unless you have the gmpp.

never seen the psi relief valve cause that problem.have seen the gear box lock, causing the wheel to turn one way but hard the other.

On hydro-boost with no P/S pressure the brake pedal will be hard as a rock to press. With pedal going to floor that should be a brake problem,ie, hose,caliper,line leak, or possibly the master cylinder bypassing fluid back to resevoir instead of sending pressure to lines. Bypassing M/C sounds more likely to me as it can come and go with no warning, JMHO

I have actually seen one case of the flow-control valve hanging up in its bore...TAC suggested replacement of valve only...Didn't work...Told them so...New pump...Down the road motors...Naa na na naaa naaa! I hate TAC

GM has had a major problem on trucks equipped with hydro boost brakes, which your truck has. The brake booster is run off the power steering pump. In certain cases, ussually when you turn the steering wheel all the way to the lock in one direction or the other the pulley can come off the pump. The result is no brakes and no power steering. I am not saying that is what it is but it sounds like it. The only strange part is that there was a leak of some sort. If it is the pulley issue I would raise H-ll about it to the dealer especially since GM knows of the problem

yes tac is a pain. you always get a different person and a different theory of whats wrong.

Mine blew a seal between the master cylinder and power assist. Easy way to check is look for fluid on fender well below master cylinder.

Mine blew a seal
You sure it wasn't just a little ice cream?

You sure it wasn't just a little ice cream?ROFLMAO!!!!

You sure it wasn't just a little ice cream?Got me on that one Hoot -- I owe you 1:rolleyes:

Sorry, guys, I should have updated this sooner, but life kinda got in the way! The dealer FINALLY got the power steering pump in late last Thursday afternoon. My truck was ready for me to pick up on Friday. Yes, it took a long time, but that's what I get for living in the middle of nowhere these days! I'm sure if I had still been in Milwaukee, it would have been done in two days. Oh well . . . I guess that's one of the trade-off's.

The BEST NEWS is that even though my truck has 49,000 miles on it (I'll be at the 2 year mark on 2/14/05) , the dealer covered it under warranty! All I had to pay was $100 for towing. Yes, that's a lot, but keep in mind, I'm over 35 miles from the dealer! (Remember, I live in the middle of friggin' nowhere.) Keep in mind, this is a dealer that I had never been to before! For a dealership to go out of their way like that for someone they've never "serviced" before, well, it's just incredible as far as I'm concerned. Trust me when I say that is the FIRST place I will go when it's time for a new truck. (And yes, I'm sure that's part of their strategy, but hey, it WORKED as far as I'm concerned!) ;) That is also the place where I will go whenever my truck needs anything other than routine maintenance, and I'm sure they realize that too, because my first question to them was whether or not they had a certified Duramax mechanic.

So, as far as the truck goes, everything seems to be great now. I'm happy to have my baby back (I really hate driving my husband's SUV, because it's just too small, and it's just NOT MY TRUCK!) :)

Thanks for all the help!

Julie Mik

Well, bad things happen in 3's...Im number 2.....My truck was parked inside a nice warm garage since tuesday, as I was using my plow truck. Today I changed my oil, filter.nicktane, and factory fuel filter. I couldnt wait to go for a quick spin(seperation anxiety). Head out of the garage, no brakes, no power steering. On my plow truck...PS pump went last year, I was able to pry the broken shaft out. Today I wasnt. I just finsihed pulling the pump out 5 minutes ago, No visible signs of failure(ie shaft) What else can poop the bed in these things. What was really weird was I only added a tiny bit of fluid in the past. Today while changing my oil i noticed an oil leak.....PS pump was filled to the brim...I never added that much to make it that full, could I have a clog that would make the fluid back up like that???? And I guess my first question should be, can anything other than the PS pump cause brake and steering failure.
Secondly....figures the spare I have for the plow truck 2001 2500 HD 6.0 doesnt work on dmax, And also dont buy an A1 brand reman PS pump the one in the 01 howls and wines constantly.
Bill TIA