Blocked up PAS pump

A couple of weeks ago I was topping up the power steering reservoir on the Volvo, when I found out that the little paper disk that originally sealed the bottle was not still attached on one side, as I thought it was. I wiggled a finger round in the reservoir but I could not find it.

Shortly after that, the power steering pump started whining as though it was empty, but the reservoir had plenty of fluid in it. More than it had before in fact. Odd. It seems the paper disk had blocked up the pump inlet.

Removing the pump and reservoir assembly was straightforward enough, apart from the fact that three of the bolts can only be accessed though a hole in the pulley and there is only just enough space to get a socket into it. I tried rinsing the offending article out by filling the tank with oil and shaking it upside down, to no avail. According to the Haynes manual, separating the tank from the pump requires special tools and should be sent to a dealer. Yeah, right. Since when are a vice, a screwdriver and a pair of water pump pliers special tools? Having got them separated, I was able to back-flush the tank and sure enough out fell the blockage.

There is the offending item. All back together now and happy.