Mitsubishi Montero Sport (2004+). Manual - part 824

ON-VEHICLE SERVICE

TSB Revision

STEERING

37A-19

STEERING WHEEL RETURN TO CENTER CHECK

M1372001800362

Conduct a road test:
1. Make both gradual and sudden turns and check the steering 

wheel return. 

2. At a vehicle speed of approximately 35 km/h (22 mph), turn 

the steering wheel 90 degrees, hold a few seconds, then 
release. If the steering wheel then returns 70 degrees or 
more, the return can be judged satisfactory.
NOTE: There will be a momentary feeling or "heaviness" 
when the wheel is turned quickly, but this is not abnormal. 
(Oil pump discharge amount is especially apt to be insuffi-
cient during idling.) 

DRIVE BELT TENSION CHECK

M1372001900314

Refer to GROUP 00, Maintenance Service 

− Drive Belt 

P.00-46

. 

FLUID LEVEL CHECK

M1372002000336

1. Park the vehicle on a flat, level surface, start the engine, and 

then turn the steering wheel in both directions several times 
to raise the temperature of the fluid to approximately 50 

− 

60

°C (122 − 140°F).

2. With the engine running, turn the wheel all the way to the left 

and right several times.

3. Check the fluid in the oil reservoir for foaming or milkiness. 
4. Check the difference of the fluid level when the engine is 

stopped, and while it is running. If the change of the fluid 
level is 5 mm (0.2 inch) or more, air bleeding should be 
done.

ACX01130AB

70˚

70˚

ACX01131

WHILE ENGINE
RUNNING

WHILE ENGINE
STOPPED

AB

FLUID FLUCTUATION

ON-VEHICLE SERVICE

TSB Revision

STEERING

37A-20

POWER STEERING FLUID REPLACEMENT

M1372002100399

1. Jack up the front wheels and support them.
2. Disconnect the return hose connection. (Refer to 

P.37A-45

.)

3. Connect a vinyl hose to the return hose, and drain the fluid 

into a container.

CAUTION

Be careful not to position the high-tension cable near the 
fuel rail.
4. Disconnect the high-tension cable. 
5. While operating the starting motor intermittently, turn the 

steering wheel all the way to the left and right several times 
to drain all of the fluid.

6. Connect the return hose securely, and then secure with the 

clip.

7. Fill the oil reservoir with GENUINE MITSUBISHI POWER 

STEERING FLUID up to the lower position of the filler, and 
then bleed the air.

POWER STEERING SYSTEM AIR BLEEDING

M1372002200385

Perform air bleeding procedure as necessary after replacing 
the steering gear box or the steering fluid lines.
1. Raise and support the front wheels.
2. Disconnect the high-tension cable. Turn the steering wheel 

all the way to the left and right five or six times while using 
the starter motor to crank the engine intermittently several 
times (for 15 to 20 seconds).

CAUTION

• Be careful not to place the high-tension cable near the 

fuel rail.

• Perform air bleeding only while cranking the engine. If 

air bleeding is performed while the engine is running, 
air could enter the fluid.
During air bleeding, refill the steering fluid supply so 
that the level never falls below the lower mark on the 
dipstick.

3. Connect the high-tension cable. Start the engine (idling).
4. Turn the steering wheel to the left and right until there are no 

air bubbles in the oil reservoir.

5. Confirm that the fluid is not milky, and that the level is 

between the high and low dipstick marks.

6. Confirm that there is very little change in the fluid level when 

the steering wheel is turned left and right.

ACX01132 AC

RETURN HOSE

PLASTIC HOSE

ON-VEHICLE SERVICE

TSB Revision

STEERING

37A-21

7. Confirm that the change in the fluid level is no more than 5 

mm (0.2 inch) when the engine is stopped and when it is 
running.

CAUTION

• If the fluid level rises suddenly after the engine is 

stopped, the air has not been completely bled. 

• If air bleeding is not complete, there will be abnormal 

noises from the pump and the flow-control valve, and 
this condition could cause reduce the life of the power 
steering components.

8. If the change of the fluid level is 5 mm (0.2 inch) or more, the 

air has not been completely bled from the system. The air 
bleeding procedure must be repeated.

OIL PUMP PRESSURE TEST

M1372002300360

Required Special Tools:

• MB990662: Pressure Gauge

• MB990993 or MB991217: Power Steering Oil Pressure 

Gauge Adapter (Pump Side)

• MB990994: Power Steering Oil Pressure Gauge Adapter 

(Hose Side)

1. Disconnect the pressure hose from the oil pump, and then 

connect special tools MB990662, MB990993 or MB991217 
and MB990994.

2. Bleed air, then turn the steering wheel several times while 

the vehicle is not moving so that the temperature of the fluid 
rises to approximately 50 

− 60°C (122 − 140°F).

3. Start the engine and idle it at 1,000 

± 100 r/min.

CAUTION

The pressure gauge shut-off valve must not remain closed 
for more than 10 seconds.
4. Fully close the shut-off valve of the pressure gauge and 

measure the oil pump relief pressure to confirm that it is 
within the standard value range. Open it again immediately 
after checking the pressure.

Standard value: 8.3 

− 9.0 MPa (1,204 − 1,305 psi)

5. If it is not within the standard value, replace the oil pump.
6. Check whether or not the hydraulic pressure is the standard 

value when no-load conditions are created by fully opening 
the shut-off valve of the pressure gauge.

Standard value: 0.8 

− 1.0 MPa (116 − 145 psi)

7. If it is not within the standard value, the probable cause is a 

malfunction of the oil line or steering gear box, so check 
these parts and repair as necessary.

8. Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left or right; then 

check whether or not the retention hydraulic pressure is the 
standard value.

Standard value: 8.3 

− 9.0 MPa (1,204 − 1,305 psi)

ACX01131

WHILE ENGINE
RUNNING

WHILE ENGINE
STOPPED

AB

FLUID FLUCTUATION

AC004562AB

PRES-
SURE 
HOSE

ADAPTER
(MB990994)

RESERVOIR

OIL
PUMP

THER-
MOMETER

ADAPTER
(MB990993
OR MB991217)

OIL PUMP
RELIEF
PRESSURE

SHUT-OFF VALVE
(FULLY CLOSED)

PRESSURE
GAUGE
(MB990662)

ON-VEHICLE SERVICE

TSB Revision

STEERING

37A-22

9. If the measured value is smaller than the standard value, 

disassemble and assemble the steering gear, and if it is 
larger than the standard value, disassemble and assemble 
the oil pump flow control valve, and then measure oil 
pressure again.

10.Remove special tools MB990662, MB990993 or MB991217 

and MB990994, and then tighten the pressure hose to the 
specified torque.

Tightening torque: 49 

− 64 N⋅m (36 − 47 ft-lb)

11.Bleed the system.

POWER STEERING PRESSURE SWITCH CHECK

M1372007200379

Required Special Tools:

• MB990662: Pressure Gauge

• MB990993 or MB991217: Power Steering Oil Pressure 

Gauge Adapter (Pump Side)

• MB990994: Power Steering Oil Pressure Gauge Adapter 

(Hose Side)

1. Disconnect the pressure hose from the oil pump, and then 

connect special tools MB990662, MB990993 or MB991217 
and MB990994.

2. Bleed air, and then turn the steering wheel several times 

while the vehicle is not moving so that the temperature of 
the fluid rises to approximately 50 

− 60°C (122 − 140°F).

3. The engine should be idling.
4. Disconnect the connector for the oil pressure switch, and 

place an ohmmeter at the switch.

5. Gradually close the shut-off valve of the pressure gauge and 

increase the hydraulic pressure, then check whether or not 
the hydraulic pressure that activates the switch is the 
standard value.

Standard value: 1.5 

− 2.0 MPa (218 − 290 psi)

6. Gradually open the shut-off valve and reduce the hydraulic 

pressure; then check whether or not the hydraulic pressure 
that deactivates the switch is the standard value.

Standard value: 0.7 

− 1.2 MPa (102 − 174 psi)

7. Remove special tools MB990662, MB990993 or MB991217 

and MB991549, and then tighten the pressure hose to the 
specified torque.

Tightening torque: 49 

− 64 N⋅m (36 − 47 ft-lb)

8. Bleed the system.

AC004737

RESERVOIR

OIL
PUMP

ADAPTER
(MB990994)

SHUT-
OFF
VALVE

PRESSURE
GAUGE
(MB990662)

THER-
MOMENT

ADAPTER
(MB990993
OR MB991217)

AB