My 1997 TF decided to not have power steering today :\. I checked the fluid and its fine, I don't see a leak under the car or around the reservoir.

How do I troubleshoot this? I would say the pump is ****ed as I hear no noises when I turn the wheel.

Many many thanks.

Have you checked the obvious - is the power steering belt still there and at the correct tension?

Anyhow, how do you know you have no power steering? Something like a flat tyre or a seizing ball joint will make the steering very heavy.

Start the engine from cold, and turn the wheel from lock to lock - then feel the fluid reservoir. It it is warm the pump is working fine.

These pumps don't just die overnight - they do however have pressure relief valve(s) in them - if it/they get stuck open you have no pressure. If you are sure it is the pump pull it off and get a pro to check it over.

Checked the belt of course :P. Seems fine and spins correctly. Its tight. How can I check the pressure relief valve?

I did a tight U-turn yesterday and notice my steering got a lil tighter. I left the car overnight and re-checked it. Still no pressure. I've had the pressure release on me before :D but just left it for a couple of mins and it was all better.

you probly got a blockich in one of the lines

Jack the front up with both wheels off the ground. With the engine off turn the steering wheel - if it is easy to turn, then its not the steering box or ball joints. If it is very difficult to turn you have a problem not related to the steering pump.

When you are sure it is the power steering pump pull it out, pull it apart and look for obstructions and that valve. Blow through all of the hoses to see if there are no blockages. Maybe another pump from the wreckers is a possibility?

that tight turn you did, did you hold it on full lock for awhile?? My workshop manual has a block letter warning saying holding the steering on full lock (ie-hard on the steering wheel to the left or right) for more than ten seconds can damage the pump. I now turn fully then let the wheel back a bit to avoid it!!!

could have air bubbles in you lines

You have posted this in the wrong area for starters

Your description of the isssue is also very poor

If not the power system itself, could also be your steering column. I have seen a few and had it myself recently in my TF where my steering column seized, it was caused by the top section having a bearing collapse internally, have as I stated seen this a couple of times now on the older third gens

If you power steering is not working, you would find it near impossible to turn the wheel at standstill, is this the issue or is it just seeming a little stiffer

lol He's determined to blame the power steering pump when he hasn't checked a number of other possibilities. lol

Its been jacked up and tested. I am very sure it is the pump :P. The steering works fine. But the pump does not make it usual spin noise at full lock etc. Read up on removing the pump and checked the service manual. It is easier to turn at faster speeds - the same as a car without power steering. The pump would not just go quiet if it was something else. It has to be directly related to the pump.

Belts are fine, Engine leaking oil at the back still >.<, No Power steering Leakages, already tried removing bubbles from the system. I have checked a number of possibilities :P.

Testing the pressure release valve and the pump requires tools I don't own :\.

$600 new from Mitsubishi. To the wreckers!

Anybody still think it is something else? Oh and thanks for the tip about checking the temp of the fluid. The fluid remained cool as the car idled for ~10 mins and turned the wheel lock to lock about 20 times.

It's pretty hard to blame anything else apart from the pump lol.

*UPDATE* The pump had died. Replaced and good to go :).