Picked car up from airport after my holiday last night and my power steering is heavy.

 

It is working but is on the really heavy setting like I was doing 100mph+ all the time.

 

No fluid leaks, no error codes, 99% sure pump is working. So is down to a signal error I should think. the speed sensor is 10 months old so doubt its that. Tried testing the solenoid next to the oil filter and could only get a reading of 0.03v. Think this should read 5v???

 

So is it just it’s getting the wrong reading and keeping it heavy or making an incorrect reading?

 

Any ideas you lot?

i had a similar problem with my old vectra V6 ....i cured it by resetting the electronics

dissconected the battery and left it for an hour before re connecting ...it was just a glitch because the car had been stood for a month while i was at work

 

worth a try mate

 

Steve

takemetothepub

 

Assuming the speedo/sensor/cabling is working ok, the signal you are testing for should be 5 volts with the engine running at tickover. If the low figure your getting is at tickover then either you have a fault with the steering ecu, a broken cable between the two ( seen this a time or two) or a loom connection fault.

 

Try disconnecting the solenoid connector, then take a reading with the engine at idle, if it is now 5 volts but drops to less than 1 volt when connecting it points to a high resistance connection somewhere in the loom ( bad connector etc).

 

Best thing to identify this is to do the testing at the steering ecu first then track back towards the steering solenoid, one of the feeds that branch off go to the consult check plug,this is the trigger wire to the steering solenoid.

 

If that is working ok then run a new wire from there to the solenoid, in my experience problems with the cables and connections is usually after some disturbance in the dash area has taken place, alarm fitted or a dash removal for heater matrix replacement, gauges etc.

 

 

The wiring diag in the workshop manual is very good for tracing this and similar faults, the cd is a bit harder work though, if you need the terminal numbers etc will take a glance in the book for you if you want .

 

Hope that helps.

 

Jeff TT

takemetothepub

 

Assuming the speedo/sensor/cabling is working ok, the signal you are testing for should be 5 volts with the engine running at tickover. If the low figure your getting is at tickover then either you have a fault with the steering ecu, a broken cable between the two ( seen this a time or two) or a loom connection fault.

 

Try disconnecting the solenoid connector, then take a reading with the engine at idle, if it is now 5 volts but drops to less than 1 volt when connecting it points to a high resistance connection somewhere in the loom ( bad connector etc).

 

Best thing to identify this is to do the testing at the steering ecu first then track back towards the steering solenoid, one of the feeds that branch off go to the consult check plug,this is the trigger wire to the steering solenoid.

 

If that is working ok then run a new wire from there to the solenoid, in my experience problems with the cables and connections is usually after some disturbance in the dash area has taken place, alarm fitted or a dash removal for heater matrix replacement, gauges etc.

 

 

The wiring diag in the workshop manual is very good for tracing this and similar faults, the cd is a bit harder work though, if you need the terminal numbers etc will take a glance in the book for you if you want .

 

Hope that helps.

 

Jeff TT

 

 

Jeff, I havn't had the highest of opinions of you in the past from most of your threads on the forum, but this in my opinion has gone a long way to correcting this.

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply I'll see if i can put your advice into practice. :duffer:

i had a similar problem with my old vectra V6 ....i cured it by resetting the electronics

dissconected the battery and left it for an hour before re connecting ...it was just a glitch because the car had been stood for a month while i was at work

 

worth a try mate

 

Steve

 

 

Thanks Steve, just gave it a go but stil the same. :cry:

What about this mate http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=40199&item=7974625616&rd=1 just an idea. ;)

What about this mate http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=40199&item=7974625616&rd=1 just an idea. ;)

 

:D :rofl: nice one. worth a go!