Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: shyboy on 02 September 2008, 19:36:36
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SWMBO's Rover 25 turbo diesel power steering isn't working, and she's suffering because of arthritis in her hands.
Will have to be first job when we get back from Newent. Could some kind expert tell me the main things to look for so that I don't waste too much time chasing unlikely causes?
Have thought of pump and drivebelt and vacuum hoses, but is there anything else that is a common cause of failure. How can I test the various components? The engine's running fine, so I doubt if it's vacuum related. (Or am I talking nonsense?).
Comments would be very much appreciated.
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HI SHYBOY, ive got a rover 200 bubble[until tomorrow yipee!] & had similar problems due to mine being bought as a cat "c", i dont know what youve checked but they do tend to weep from the pipes on the pump resovoir, also check balljoints on the track control arms & track rod ends as if these are seizing it will make it heavy, you can tell if the pump is working by starting it up & moving the steering, you will hear the engine note drop, if its the rack itself they are pretty easy to do but for ease take off totally the track rod ends as you have to slide the steering back & forth manually from underneath to clear suspension etc, i had to also knock the pin out of the gear selector rod but i was also changing the rear crossmember so it may not be necessary, also if you get one from a scrappy make sure its off a 25 as the 200 has different mounting holes i believe, as i say pretty easy to do but its all done from underneath,,,good luck anyway :y
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Thanks for your comments, Tim. I haven't been able to check anything yet, except to press the brake pedal and start the engine looking for the pedal to lower under my foot. It doesn't, so perhaps the pump just isn't working.
But thanks again. I'll get to grips with it after the Newent meet and post my findings out of interest.
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moved to genchat as non omega q...
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the power steering is totally separate from the brakes, as i say make sure the rack is from a 25,not sure if the rack differs from petrol to diesel but i know the cross member is different.but as i say be sure to take the track rod ends completely off the rack before unbolting rack from the member or its an arse!. oh & make sure to fit the rubber boot/ring back on the column spindle or the wind will whistle through into the car!!
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Hi Bill, The power steering pipes have a tendancy to rub together at the alloy section not far from the power steering fluid resevoir. My youngest daughter phoned my at 4am a couple of weeks ago to tell me her power steering had packed up, so I had to go and drive her car back from where she was working. She has an MG ZR diesel and my wife has a 25 diesel and thats going in the same place. All I did to repair it was go to the scrap yard and cut some of the rubber power steering pipe from another Rover and cut the alloy pipe with the hole out and replaced it with the rubber hose.
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Dont forget the obvious, the PAS has its own belt - check it is still there!
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Dont forget the obvious, the PAS has its own belt - check it is still there!
If not, let me know, as I have a spare (its used, I only replaced it as I was changing all the belts as matter of course)
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AFAIK all Rovers suffer from weeping PS hoses... Particularly around the reservoir so check the fluid!! I expect that'll be it but failing that you just have to trace the obvious faults first... Like TB said, it may just have lost its belt
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Thanks for the advice, guys. I can't even look at it until after Newent, but hope it's one of the more simple causes.
I'll post the results next week.
Thanks again.
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I'll pop the belt in the car, at least you have one if that is the issue...
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Do Diesel and Petrol use the same belts?
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Do Diesel and Petrol use the same belts?
Thats a good point, well presented.
I would have thought so - PAS is in same place, and they wouldn't change the crank pulley... ...mind you, this is Rover....