Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Scotty]

Hi Everyone,

I seem to have a problem with my power steering. It is not dropping off
all the time. It just seems to be when for instance I am trying to get out
of a tight car parking space and I end up doing a lot of mini 3 point turns.
The rest of the time is ok. I have checked the levels and all seems fine
and dandy.

Any ideas? Am I looking at an expensive repair??

Cheers

Andy

[TheBoy]

Hi Everyone,

I seem to have a problem with my power steering. It is not dropping off
all the time. It just seems to be when for instance I am trying to get out
of a tight car parking space and I end up doing a lot of mini 3 point turns.
The rest of the time is ok. I have checked the levels and all seems fine
and dandy.

Any ideas? Am I looking at an expensive repair??

Cheers

Andy

power assistance not working well at idle is a sign of a tired pump..

[alstonalvin]

The power steering in a vehicle is what allows the driver to turn the wheel with ease. When the vehicle experiences power steering problems, it can be extremely tough to turn the wheel, and in some cases, the vehicle experiences complete steering lock-up. As soon as the vehicle shows any signs of steering problems, it needs to be diagnosed by the driver, or a professional mechanic The power steering  in a vehicle is what allows the driver to turn the wheel with ease. When the vehicle experiences power steering problems, it can be extremely tough to turn the wheel, and in some cases, the vehicle experiences complete steering lock-up. As soon as the vehicle shows any signs of steering problems, it needs to be diagnosed by the driver, or a professional mechanic
Check the Fluid Levels
Check the Steering Pump Belt
Visually Inspect the Power Steering Assembly

[chrisgixer]

Stiff at low rpm, replace pump.
Stiff at random speeds, replace servo tronic relay. Red relay under glove box or drivers fuse box depending on year. Not fitted to four pots. (Or is it only on v6's?)

Anyway. Sounds like swapy pumpy

[xeni]

Hi there. I just got registered and i'm new in the forum. Your advise is very much needed.

I have opel omega b 2.2 dti, 2001. I do have also a problem with the steering wheel.
when driving in the plane asphalt, car runs ok (straight) but as soon as there are drains in the road, done by the heavy trucks, the car knows to "throw" you from one to the other side of the road.
Different opinions received. I was told because the large tyre profiles 235/45/17. I doubt that this can be the reason!

Worth mentioning that when turning the wheel to the maximum in both sides, you can hear a noise coming from the hood.

I think that something has to do with the servo pump of the steering wheel. I checked the level of the oil and it was ok.

please advise!

[VXL V6]

Stiff at low rpm, replace pump.
Stiff at random speeds, replace servo tronic relay. Red relay under glove box or drivers fuse box depending on year. Not fitted to four pots. (Or is it only on v6's?)

Anyway. Sounds like swapy pumpy

Steering box can give issues too, One on my 2.6 'stiffens' the steering occasionally at randon times (also cancels the self centering  ), I think you also had a steering box issue as well Chris?

[TheBoy]

Hi there. I just got registered and i'm new in the forum. Your advise is very much needed.

I have opel omega b 2.2 dti, 2001. I do have also a problem with the steering wheel.
when driving in the plane asphalt, car runs ok (straight) but as soon as there are drains in the road, done by the heavy trucks, the car knows to "throw" you from one to the other side of the road.
Different opinions received. I was told because the large tyre profiles 235/45/17. I doubt that this can be the reason!

Worth mentioning that when turning the wheel to the maximum in both sides, you can hear a noise coming from the hood.

I think that something has to do with the servo pump of the steering wheel. I checked the level of the oil and it was ok.

please advise!

Start by checking for play in the front suspension/steering components, especially wishbone bushes, ball joints, track rod ends and steering idler.  All these can cause problems with stability on slightly uneven roads.

Also try swapping tyres front to rear if possible.

And try to pinpoint that noise.

[chrisgixer]

Hi there. I just got registered and i'm new in the forum. Your advise is very much needed.

I have opel omega b 2.2 dti, 2001. I do have also a problem with the steering wheel.
when driving in the plane asphalt, car runs ok (straight) but as soon as there are drains in the road, done by the heavy trucks, the car knows to "throw" you from one to the other side of the road.
Different opinions received. I was told because the large tyre profiles 235/45/17. I doubt that this can be the reason!

Worth mentioning that when turning the wheel to the maximum in both sides, you can hear a noise coming from the hood.

I think that something has to do with the servo pump of the steering wheel. I checked the level of the oil and it was ok.

please advise!

Start by checking for play in the front suspension/steering components, especially wishbone bushes, ball joints, track rod ends and steering idler.  All these can cause problems with stability on slightly uneven roads.

Also try swapping tyres front to rear if possible.

And try to pinpoint that noise.

Indeed, basickly, diagnose faulty parts, replace them, set up for full geo, fit new tyres.
Here's some more specific help.
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90492.0

[chrisgixer]

Stiff at low rpm, replace pump.
Stiff at random speeds, replace servo tronic relay. Red relay under glove box or drivers fuse box depending on year. Not fitted to four pots. (Or is it only on v6's?)

Anyway. Sounds like swapy pumpy

Steering box can give issues too, One on my 2.6 'stiffens' the steering occasionally at randon times (also cancels the self centering  ), I think you also had a steering box issue as well Chris?

Yes having extensively tech 2'd servo tronic for faults, thanks to TB, and replaced the pump anyway as I had a spare and it's a fairly easy job, that only really left the box itself.
2woody was strongly of the opinion that the randomly stiff steering while turning left (mostly) between dead ahead and 9oclock, was due to a flat ball in the reciprocting ball(?) mechanism of the steering box. Servotronic relay removed didn't affect the main symptom.
Swapping the box out for a known good one sorted it. Not toooo bad a job as the box can be persuaded to come out the top squeezing past the wing and the coolant transfer pipe. Always have a spare brake light switch for this job.

I would add that this fault appears to be extremely rare. So exhaust all other options first.

[VXL V6]

Stiff at low rpm, replace pump.
Stiff at random speeds, replace servo tronic relay. Red relay under glove box or drivers fuse box depending on year. Not fitted to four pots. (Or is it only on v6's?)

Anyway. Sounds like swapy pumpy

Steering box can give issues too, One on my 2.6 'stiffens' the steering occasionally at randon times (also cancels the self centering  ), I think you also had a steering box issue as well Chris?

Yes having extensively tech 2'd servo tronic for faults, thanks to TB, and replaced the pump anyway as I had a spare and it's a fairly easy job, that only really left the box itself.
2woody was strongly of the opinion that the randomly stiff steering while turning left (mostly) between dead ahead and 9oclock, was due to a flat ball in the reciprocting ball(?) mechanism of the steering box. Servotronic relay removed didn't affect the main symptom.
Swapping the box out for a known good one sorted it. Not toooo bad a job as the box can be persuaded to come out the top squeezing past the wing and the coolant transfer pipe. Always have a spare brake light switch for this job.

I would add that this fault appears to be extremely rare. So exhaust all other options first.

Indeed. My 2.6 exhibits similar issues and pump and servotronic relay have been swapped twice and fresh Dex II bled through multiple times.

Will have to see what's involved in swapping the box I suppose, presumably there is some setting up / adjustment to make when you fit the replacement?

[chrisgixer]

The only other area I didn't fully explore first was top mount bearings. Mine where a bit pitted and notchy, but I later replaced those and nothing noticeable changed as far as turning the steering goes.

The only real set up issue was the y shaped spacer between the not quite flat shape of the wing/chassis and the side of the box on the top mounting bolt I think, you'll see when you get in there.
 I imagined a box of these y shaped spacers on the bench of the guy that fits them on the production line. All in different thicknesses to match the gap on each car, perhaps. It's important to space it out correctly. Although I'm not sure what to do if the spacer is too thin, too thick it could be ground down.

Other than that that, didn't touch anything else as a result. Steering wheel still central as I recall

There's a thread on here somewhere.

[chrisgixer]

http://oldsite.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1299520834

[VXL V6]

The issue mine has is that the steering will be absolutely fine from when you start it to when you stop, when you restart the car (say you just stopped for fuel) the steering will be stiff - still has assistance but not a lot and doesn't self centre. Drive down the road around a couple of corners and the original level of assistance comes back along with the self centre. Had this 2.6 about 20 months and it's been the same since day one, the repair has never been top of the list but I'm getting down the list now!

2 x Servomatic Relays, 2 x Power Steering Pumps, no change.