I had my car up on axle stands last night sorting a boost leak (fixed - yay!) but I noticed that the area around the alternator/driver's side CV joint was a bit damp with oil (boo!). I've never noticed a single spot of oil on my drive or anything, but obviously still a little concerned.

 

Any ideas what it could be?

on my old zed the alternator belt started to sqeal so i bought a new set of belts... it continued to squeal :rolleyes: then when i had a closer look in the area i noticed that the power steering reservoir, where the 2 hoses come out of the front were slightly moist by the clamp and all the way down the hose... i tightened the old girls up a bit and hey presto, after a few miles the squeal had gone :D this oil you found could simply be the residue of a small leak from that area... worth a look, simple fixes are v nice ;)

 

you might notice that you have to keep topping up your power steering fluid every now n again and that the hicas light is illuminating on the dash if this was the problem?

Is it oil or PAS fluid? Trying to remember where the alternator is LOL

on my old zed the alternator belt started to sqeal so i bought a new set of belts... it continued to squeal :rolleyes: then when i had a closer look in the area i noticed that the power steering reservoir, where the 2 hoses come out of the front were slightly moist by the clamp and all the way down the hose... i tightened the old girls up a bit and hey presto, after a few miles the squeal had gone :D this oil you found could simply be the residue of a small leak from that area... worth a look, simple fixes are v nice ;)

 

you might notice that you have to keep topping up your power steering fluid every now n again and that the hicas light is illuminating on the dash if this was the problem?

 

Hmm - maybe! Yes the HICAS light has ALWAYS been on since I got the car, but I reckon the HICAS controller is dead (it's a '95, so electronic. Managed to get it into diag mode once and the service manual says 'replace control unit' as the fix for the code I got...) I also had problems a while back with the PAS cutting out, but that seems to have fixed itself. I think that was the solenoid connector though...

 

Still - I'll have a look to see what I can find around the reservoir. It may all be related with a bit of luck!

Ive seen several where the pipe below the PAS reservior leaks.

Is it oil or PAS fluid? Trying to remember where the alternator is LOL

 

Dunno! I'll have to check properly. I was in a bit of a rush last night as I had my car in bits sorting that boost leak and light was fading fast!

Check the PAS resoviour and see if it's full.

 

The sensor for the PAS goes into the cap. so you could try cleaning that and topping it up to get rid of the light.

 

Then you just need to fix that leak.

 

If it's not PAS fluid it could be one of your cam seals leaking, have a look to see if there is any fluid behind the timing belt covers

Check the PAS resoviour and see if it's full.

 

The sensor for the PAS goes into the cap. so you could try cleaning that and topping it up to get rid of the light.

 

I didn't think that the PAS fluid made any difference to a Zed with electronic HICAS? Isn't that just on the hydraulic ones? I really hope I'm wrong - if that sorts the HICAS problem I'll be very happy!

 

I'll have a look and see if I can find anything behind the belt covers :)

I didn't think that the PAS fluid made any difference to a Zed with electronic HICAS? Isn't that just on the hydraulic ones? I really hope I'm wrong - if that sorts the HICAS problem I'll be very happy!

 

I'll have a look and see if I can find anything behind the belt covers :)

 

wasnt 95 the change over period from hydraulic to electric? maybe your falls just before?..

 

has yours got one of these...

wasnt 95 the change over period from hydraulic to electric? maybe your falls just before?..

 

has yours got one of these...

 

Nope - but it does have a relay and a box wiv lots of wires coming out of it in the boot, passenger side, behind all the plastic trim... does that mean mine's electric?

Nope - but it does have a relay and a box wiv lots of wires coming out of it in the boot, passenger side, behind all the plastic trim... does that mean mine's electric?

 

Yes. Electric HICAS (rear wheel steering). The front wheels will still be hydraulicly (sp?) assisted though.

 

Changeover period was Series 3 models, late '93 i think?

Cheers dunk300zxtt - thought so.

 

On that note... does anyone know where I can borrow a HICAS ECU briefly to see if that really is the problem? Or is there anyone I could take mine to to see if the problem follows the ECU?

Cheers dunk300zxtt - thought so.

 

On that note... does anyone know where I can borrow a HICAS ECU briefly to see if that really is the problem? Or is there anyone I could take mine to to see if the problem follows the ECU?

 

will your hicas ecu be the same as the one used for hydraulic systems?

will your hicas ecu be the same as the one used for hydraulic systems?

 

Umm... iunno. I didn't even realise that the hydraulic ones had a HICAS ECU. I'd say that as the electronic HICAS would need connections from it to the motors/actuators etc, they'd be different - any techies out there know for sure?

I didn't even know we had a hicas ECU haha :D

I didn't even know we had a hicas ECU haha :D

 

you havent got one bud:rofl: cars after 93/94 would have due to electronic hicas. hydraulic's dont require an ECU.

you havent got one bud:rofl: cars after 93/94 would have due to electronic hicas. hydraulic's dont require an ECU.

 

Another Gregism :rofl:

 

They do - what else controls the bloody hicas solenoids LOL

Another Gregism :rofl:

 

They do - what else controls the bloody hicas solenoids LOL

 

the HCU controls the hicas (solenoids) the ECU controls the engine thats my point spunk nuts (I was being pedantic):D:tongue:

So that'll be a 'no' on whether they're the same I suppose!

 

Has no one got a spare HCU (better, Greg? ;) ) that's just sitting around as a paperweight then? ;)