Hi all,

 

I have had a problem with my power steering for a little while now and was hoping someone could point me in the right direction. I've posted before about this but have a bit more info this time round...

 

It's not all the while - sometimes I can drive it and it'll be perfect, other times it'll just cut out and stay cut out. Other times it'll sort of drop out and kick back in - very disconcerting on roundabouts!

 

A lot of the time, I'll start the car and have no PS. So, I switch it off, back on and it works fine! Always on the second go.

 

In addition, I have always had a HICAS light on. I thought that this was a dead HICAS control unit ('95, so electronic). However, a couple of times I have noticed the HICAS light go out... then the PS die and it come back on! So now I'm not so sure.

 

I have no problems with my speedo - I did have, now and again, but since re-flowing the joints, all is good.

 

So... speed sensor on gearbox? Speedo convertor (it's an import)? PS Control solenoid on steering rack? Dodgy connector somewhere?

 

I've tried checking a few of the connectors, especially the one for the PS control solenoid (according to the service manual, this seemed likely) but haven't yet checked the connector onto the speed sensor as it was getting dark. Which side of the gearbox is this? I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for...

 

Help would be greatly appreciated :)

Try disconnecting the convertor/delimiter box in the back of the dash first, to see if that sorts the problem, but make sure the yellow/green wire is connected back up to how it originally was, as this is the signal to the clock. At least its the first thing to eliminate in the list to check.

HTH

 

Graham

Thanks mate - any ideas on how I tell how it was originally connected up though? The convertor was already in when I got the car so not sure about the stock setup. I suppose this also gives me a good excuse to get my finger out and send you my pods as previously discussed ;)

Hi Mate

 

You will see the connector on the back of the speedo with a (yellow with green stripe) wire, that will have been cut, just rejoin the 2 with an inline crimp or twist together to try. The clock will then be reading in KPH again but you will be able to tell if the power steering stops acting up.

If doing this does not cure the problem, then at least you can eliminate the convertor and move onto the next possible cause.

Cheers

Graham

Knew I could count on you with all things electrical - cheers again mate! I'll have a look and maybe get back to you if I get stuck... hehe

i got the same problem mate, i havent managed to suss it yet, but i think it has something to do with the power steering pump

Hi Nick

 

With a 16-18 year old car it is more than likely that most of our power steering pumps could do with replacing, its the same with the speedo boards, they tend to get dry joints which give an intermittent reading/signal to the power steering, in most cases its usually a dry joint or a dodgy kph-mph convertor.

mine used to do that until i filled up the power steering fluid right up to the top over the limet even though this was not recomened to me since then not once had the steering got heavy nor came on the light but that just worked for me dont know why