Was finishing install on my new aluminum tie rod today, and re-installing my steering stabilizer clamp. I had a buddy cycle the wheel from left to right (full lock) multiple times. Well, on the 4th or 5th cycle BOOM, steam, I'm covered in boiling hot fluid (which in the heat of the moment I assumed was coolant, and that my radiator blew). Long story short, had to call an ambulance, suffered 2nd degree burns to my chin/lip area and neck, 1st degree burns to my chest, upper arms, and forearms.

Just got home from the hospital a few hours ago and took another peek to see what the hell happened. Looks like the line from the pump blew, and I have no idea why. Can anyone confirm this? Has anyone else experienced this?? My JK is a 2015 with 36k miles on it, is this covered under warranty? I was planning on going hydro assist later this summer, but am not ready to drop all that coin now. No clue why my power steering line (maybe pump too) would spontaneously blow now?

Pics attached:

 

Wow!! First off, I hope you are okay... those burns sound kinda bad. Not sure what happened to your pump line. I've not heard of one blowing while cycling your steering. Heck, I just installed a drag link flip kit, upper track bar brace and tie rod and would have been burned too. My son is a diesel mechanic and he made me work safety glasses and cut proof gloves (and I was complaining... guess I won't do that again).

Hopefully someone can chime in here with helpful information.

 

Turning the wheels at a dead stop will raise the pressure, my guess is that line was bad and ready to blow. If I'm seeing the pic right, it broke at a transition from hard line to hose.

Glad your reasonably OK, could have been worse. Did you have glasses on?

 

Thanks guys, I did not have glasses on. Luckily my head was under the diff/pumpkin, and nothing got in my eyes....or it could've been way worse. Lesson learned, wear glasses no matter what the job is from now on. The person turning the wheel did hold it at full lock for a few seconds each cycle, but it's not like it was held at full lock for more than 10 seconds.

Think the dealer will warranty this for me? I'm just under 37k miles (36,9xx). I've got AAA and can get it towed over there for free. Honestly I'm a little traumatized by all of this, and for once...I'd rather have someone else do this while I let my burns heal.

 

Doesn't hurt too try the warranty, that hose shouldn't blow apart with that few miles/years. Might want to look for any evidence of something rubbing, corrosion, or prior damage to the hose first.

I've got to be more consistent about wearing safety glasses myself, basically just about all the time... Thanks for posting, it's a good reminder.

 

One more thought, and it's a weird one. Presuming it's a bit outside the warranty and you ask the dealer to make an exception -- You might want to initially NOT mention getting injured. Sometimes people immediately think personal injury law, admission of fault, and stuff like that.

 

In regards to warranty, I'm wondering if the new SS could have something to do with the problem? From what I read, the Fox gas charged ones seem to pull until they've been broken in. It seems kind of too coincidental that 2 parts of the steering were replaced, and then upon testing them out, the problem happened. What I'm wondering is if the additional pressure from the new gas charged SS may have caused the additional pressure in the power steering lines and caused it to separate? It won't hurt to try to make a warranty claim, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone denies the claim due to aftermarket steering component changes.

 

Was thinking the same actually, so I'm glad you confirmed my suspicions. Might give it a week or two before I tow the Jeep in. Definitely NEVER getting under a running Jeep ever again hahah

Nothing freaks your loved ones out more than you screaming and a big pile of red fluid (power steering) all over you and the floor. Can confirm: it sucked.

 

I get the general claim they may make that somehow related aftermarket parts are to blame, but can't see how there's any difference once it hits the steering stops. I think the coincidence is that normally one doesn't steer to the stops, the hose was failing (maybe a faulty crimp from the pic), and setting up the stab involved going to the stops.

 

When you wrote "big pile of red fluid", which in an emergency starts to resemble blood, it reminded me of a story. My grandmother worked in a paint store in an area that became a bad part of town in post watts-riots early 1970's Los Angeles. During an armed robbery the bad-guy carelessly fired a round barely missing grandma -- and hit a can of red spray paint behind her.