01 Prizm Power Steering Flush

[DanielinTheLions]

I'm considering getting a Power Steering Flush for my 01 Prizm. The owners manual never lists it as a necessary maintenance item. However, I've heard my buddy who's a mechanic talking about doing it in his Matrix and the fluid in the reservoir on my Prizm is getting a bit dark. I'm also thinking about replacing it with a synthetic ATF instead of the conventional Dex-tron since we live in a region where it usually gets well below zero a couple times during the winter.

Is it likely to be worth it to flush the Power Steering Fluid? Or would I just be wasting my money on an unnecessary flush and expensive ATF?

 

[lipadj46]

Sure IMO it's never a bad idea to change fluid that old.

 

[Kestas]

If you DIY, I highly recommend getting the fluid changed. If you have to pay for the service, then maybe it isn't worth the cost, except for the first 30K service to remove the break-in debris.

 

[lipadj46]

I would just get a small fluid pump and exchange the fluid a few times.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Turkey baster and a quart of M1 Synthetic Mercon V ATF, compatible with Dex3, which is what you probably have. Suck as much out as you can with a baster, refill with M1, repeat the next day, and on, until M1 container is empty.

I replaced fluid on my 02 Isuzu last summer, you won't believe how much easier the steering is. Real benefits will be in winter. M1 flows better when cold vs regular ATF.

$10 and your PS pump will thank you.

 

[artificialist]

I have done this to several Toyotas, using M1 ATF. The result has always been excellent.

 

[DanielinTheLions]

Thanks guys! Turkey baster, that's something I hadn't thought of. I have a small suction pump that I've used for removing brake fluid from the reservoir but I'm a little uneasy about using it for anything else (like the power steering) for fear of getting brake fluid mixed into the lubricant.

 

[chad8]

i use amsoil transmission fluid and a turkey baster for ps fluid. cured a squeal in one toyota corolla and a shudder with cold weather stiffness in another. I am sold.
I do the same thing with brake fluid in the reservoir . change it with the baster, then i loosen the farthest wheel cylinder bleeder and let it drip out through a plastic tube into a jar until the fresh fluid get there as i keep the reservoir full. saves a lot of trouble and no power flushing needed.

 

[DanielinTheLions]

Well, got the fluid all exchanged, only a tiny bit of ATF left in the bottom of the quart. It might have made the steering a little bit smoother but really didn't seem to make much difference. I assume that's really a good thing though, indicating that the old fluid wasn't too far gone.

 

[caravanmike]

sounds like you got to it before it caused a problem. prevenative is the key word! mike