Need some help fast, please. Got in my van to go to work this morning and had no power brakes and power steering. It ran great yesterday with no warning about this. Didn't have time to check it out so jumped on my bike and rode in. I NEED this van desperately. Anyone have any ideas or clues? Gonna get on it as soon as I get off work. Thanks in advance.

Ed

What do you have for a van ? Fill out your sig when you get a chance.

My first guess would be a broken power steering pump shaft. I had this happen a few years ago.

You know, I filled out my info before. Don't know where it went. Anyway, I've got an 06' Duramax one ton GMC van with 63,000 miles with a 4L85E tranny. Never had a hint of this before this morning. It's like power steering and brakes disappeared over night. Drove it last night and it was fine.

Ed

My was fine one day then 1 mile down the down the shaft just broke.

How'd you find it? Pully come loose or did it break inside the pump? I didn't even have a chance to pop the hood to look.
Ed

Need some help fast, please. Got in my van to go to work this morning and had no power brakes and power steering. It ran great yesterday with no warning about this. Didn't have time to check it out so jumped on my bike and rode in. I NEED this van desperately. Anyone have any ideas or clues? Gonna get on it as soon as I get off work. Thanks in advance.

Ed


Sounds to me the fan belt is broke or came off. Have you raised the hood?

It broke inside the pump and the pulley had some wobble to it. I could pull the pulley/shaft right out of the pump. Sheared it off perfectly.

Checked everything last night with nothing readily obvious. Lots of power steering fluid coming out of resevoir I assume from trying to get her back in the driveway. Called the dealer and having the sob towed in today. This is gettin' old. Used to be that you could depend on GM products. Not anymore. Wife says she doesn't trust it now to take on another trip. Guess this will cost me another grand.
Ed

It broke inside the pump and the pulley had some wobble to it. I could pull the pulley/shaft right out of the pump. Sheared it off perfectly.


I had one do the same thing on one of my gas vans. I was hitting the brakes and turning the steering while backing a trailer over a curb......perfect storm for a pump failure.

PS, don't get the Advanced auto pump, it's a pos. I went back and replaced mine with an AC delco and it runs like new to this day.

Well, dealer came and got it today but could not find anything wrong!! I can't believe that. They're keeping it overnight to check it in the morning. Now I'm afraid to drive the thing if they say come get it ain't nothing wrong. Believe me that beast won't stop OR turn. I wonder what brilliant engineer tied those two systems together?? That van is a death trap when the power steering goes out!! What were they thinking? Think I'll trade it to the dealer that says nothing's wrong.
Ed

Did you have below freezing weather , I had a simliar problem w/ a 99 Suburban . Warm it up it would go away . Hand full when you lose both systems !

It was actually 65 degrees here that morning and was 70 that evening when I got to pop the hood and check things. Haven't heard from the dealer yet this morning.
Ed

Stupid van is driving perfect!! Dealer wants me to come get it today. Guess I'll take a chance and drive it home and empty it and take it and trade it on a DODGE, anything but a GM product. I'm done. Wife refuses to get in it ever again and I don't blame her. Anyone wanta nice van with 63,000 miles? It'd make a nice mailbox.
Ed

Gm cargo vans are the best on the market. Every brand has there issues especially things made here in the USA.

I have had all 3 makers , G.M. makes the best cargo van in my opinion . I have an uncle who swears by his Ford van , an older inline 6 , to each his own I guess . They all break , but the late models have better long lasting brakes , better cooling systems etc. Sheet metal is my only complaint , dents easily .

The sheet metal is my only complaint also. I had at least 12 dents from the inside out before I had all my tank mounts in. The 06 is so much better than my 02 in terms of reliability.

The sheet metal is my only complaint also. I had at least 12 dents from the inside out before I had all my tank mounts in. The 06 is so much better than my 02 in terms of reliability.
I cover the inside walls with 1/4 in plywood before I do the shelve units. I hate the inside dings.

Flush the power steering with a synthetic fluid. I had no steering or breaks one day, flushed it out and its been fine.