2003 Chevy 4X4 DIESEL HELP!!!
 

2003 - 6.6 turbo diesel in chevy pickup - 4x4. Belongs to my neighbor. He got out of it yesterday, no problems. Drove it today and had no power steering or power brakes. No warning lights came on! Anyone familar with a problem like this?

I know it sounds like it sounds but did he check the fluid..that is a hydroboost on a diesel pickup and if there is no fluid in the powere steering pump then nothing will work.. Could be the pump has failed as well as the power steering pump runs all of that..I would start there..Fill the reservoir and crack a line to see if the pump is pumping..Another thing to look at..

Sam

Not real sure what single problem could have caused that... Strange. This may be a stupid question but have you checked the fluid in the powersteering? I'm jumping to conclusions here but could someone have sabotaged the truck just to mess with him? I know that technology has come a long way from the vehicles I'm used to working on but I think that the power brakes still use vacuum to do the boosting.

An easy way to check if vacuum is being applied to the break system is to turn the engine off. Then press and release the break pedal several times. Hold down the break pedal and then fire the engine. If the break system has a vacuum supply the pedal should go soft. If not then you need to run down the vacuum line.

I'm an idiot!

I didn't look at your post closley enough. Diesel engines don't use vacuum! Look at the following quote.

"HYDROBOOST POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS - Diesel engines do not create enough useable vacuum to actuate the vacuum power brake booster. The alternative is a hydraulic-assisted power brake boosteror hydrobcmst. This system is currently found in the1 1/4-ton CUCV and the 3/4-ton CUCV Blazer, both powered by the 366 cubic inch V8 General Motorsdiesel engine. Both units are found throughout the NCF and at some public works stations. The hydroboost uses hydraulic pressure developed by the power steering"

Check the fluid first. If it's full the pump may be shot

Would be interesting to hear what the problem turned out to be??

Sam

This is a very informative site that may help you out:
http://www.babcox.com/editorial/bf/bf030542.htm

It's not just diesel pickups that use Hydroboost systems. I know that at least the 3/4 ton and up gas powered GM pickups also use Hydroboost. My gas '00 Silverado has it, my friends gas 97 has it and my uncles '93 Suburban, also gas, uses it. It works great.

THANKS TO ALL!!!

It turned out to be the power steering pump, and my neighbor also is having the boost valve replaced!!!