2000 Freightliner Century Power steering intermittent

That’s my point gears or pump shouldn’t have suddenly gone bad . Think of an old car after it’s been sitting trans will act up same reason filter It’s your cheapest option don’t really have to change fluid unless it’s burnt looking. Just a mess otherwise . Drain fluid take bolt off top of reservoir look in bottom you’ll see it looks like a small oil filter I think it had a bolt holdin it in either way you’ll figure it out real easy

 

I would definitely change fluid while you’re at it with Dextron and no Lucas unless it still leaks. Then Lucas Power Steering Fluid it’s thick red stuff sold by pint at TS expensive stuff a pint should help it stop a small leak. I wouldnt be wasting my or you’re time if I hadn’t been through same thing a couple times . Hope it solves problem.Never had pump go bad current Truck has orig Over 2 mil miles

 

Most folks find out there’s a filter only when it acts up including myself

 

Wouldn’t hurt. If you end up changing pump I guess fluid would still be good

 

After you fill it crank w hose off flush steering box good luck

 

If there was a leak in the gear box (even a small one) when you parked it, you can simply have air bubbles in the box. Put a new filter in it, I mean it's cheap anyway. After you top off the fluid, Jack up the front end, start the truck and work the steering wheel back and forth many times. Since you have it up in the air any way, grease the front end (steering shaft joints if applicable, steering shaft if applicable, gear box, drag link, tie rod ends, king pins, springs if they're greaseable). & Check the shaft joints for binding inside & out of the cab. It's a bit of a birdshot method. But you'll either fix or find the problem, & may find something that will be a problem, sooner or later to boot.