Finished the repairs yesterday and took the old girl for a drive. Everything seems to working OK except the steering. Getting the typical sound you get when power steering fluid is low, gets worse at full lock. Feels like the power steering is cutting in and out, although everything moves smoothly when car is turned off and on the jack stands. No leaks anywhere and fluid is OK.

Any ideas?

Finished the repairs yesterday and took the old girl for a drive. Everything seems to working OK except the steering. Getting the typical sound you get when power steering fluid is low, gets worse at full lock. Feels like the power steering is cutting in and out, although everything moves smoothly when car is turned off and on the jack stands. No leaks anywhere and fluid is OK.

Any ideas?

 

If intermitant, is it an air lock somewhere in the system?

Belt might need adjusting or a new one.

Possible air lock, belt looks and is adjusted fine. It has to something that was caused in the wreck or when I had it torn apart while replacing bits.

 

Andy, Paul, Pete, any advice? Please start with the simplest possibility and then to the more severe. I'm determined to get this sorted today so I can go get the alignment and tyres sorted tomorrow.

Did you replace the rack?

Did you replace the rack?

 

Nope

Could possibly be a damaged rack :( Did you reconnect the switch on it?

Yep, switch reconnected. I was afraid of the rack being damaged but evrything seems to be moving smoothly. The noise is coming from the power steering pump, hard to describe the sound, sounds like it's gone dry.

Any kinked hoses?

Any kinked hoses?

 

Now lets not get personal....

 

 

 

Seriously, traced all the lines and they look OK. So, this problem could be caused by something obstructing the flow of fluid. Any way to flush it?

LOL erm, I suppose you could disconnect the fluid return from the PAS pot, failing that disconnect the feed where it joins the rack....

OK, trying to flush it doesn't sound like a good idea...

 

Andy, if you had the same problem what would would you do? Should I just bite the bullet and replace the steering rack?

Considering the rack was in the line of fire so to speak then its more than likely its that. Although I can't see how it would be damaged if it moves freely with the wheels in the air :confused: Have you checked EVERY hose to and from it? Especially the metal lines that run across the front of the subframe...

Checked everything I could see...

I was just reviewing the online manual. It talks about checks at the connectors. When you asked if I plugged it in I assumed you meant the solenoid connection. The manual talks about testing outputs at a seven pin connector, do you know where this one is located?

Looks like the conZult connector to me bud

Could still be air,I've had this before where the fluid is up and then the pump

'swallows' it all!-all of a sudden like!

Do you have hydrolic Hicas, and is the fluid airating and looking milky?

Thanks everyone!

I'll go over the lines again and check the fluid. Looks like the power steering control unit is mounted next to the ECU so I'll check those connections also. Possible a connector, fuse, or relay got knocked loose.

It's a 1990 N/A so no Hicas to worry about.