Print

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

[mkaminski100]

I have a small problem with power steering in 2.5 Omega. When it’s cold it’s ok, but I would say it’s switching from soft to very soft. When it gets warmed up, especially after Parking maneuvers, PS fails but only at low revs. When it’s revved up, it’s ok, but on low revs pump is making loud noises, like when the steering wheel is in max position, but louder.  There is no PS at all.
ABS is ok, dashboard working fine, fluid level is ok, and it’s not black. I thought this might be a pump, but it also can be a steering rack or Servotronic failure.
Is there any way to tell if it’s a pump or a rack and can you please explain bit more about the Servotronic? I know that it’s an extra power steering but is it a valve that raises the pressure inside the rack or some kind of extra pump?
Thanks in advance.

[Kevin Wood]

Servotronic is just a valve that modulates the pressure available to the steering gear. Might be worth checking the fuse, but if the problem is RPM related I would suspect the pump.


Kevin

[mkaminski100]

I think, I will replace the pump and see what happens (will check fuse before). Hope it’s less difficult than replacing PS pump in Vectra V6…
Thanks Kevin once again.

[mkaminski100]

I didn’t have any chance to replace the pump, but why there is no noise when wheels are straight or system is cold, and it’s loosing PS completely when it’s hot and wheels are turned just a little bit (up to the limit).
How does ABS failure look like and is it loosing the P/S completely? I also suspect steering box.

[TheBoy]

loss of pas at low revs is a pas pump failure.  fairly common

[mkaminski100]

So "new" pump is required... What's the easiest way to replace it? I gues I have to take battery out and plenum. Anything else? Coolant pipe from thermostat? I will do some photos and hopefully create some guide on how to replace a pump.

[philhoward]

Could it be a minute air leak in the feed hose to the pump?  If so it'll be a bit "frothy" when it starts playing up.

[eddie]

Tyre pressure's? I recently cured similar problem,discovered fronts were down to mid 20's psi. Now on 30 and problem gone.

eddie

[Agemo]

It des sound like the pump, although I had a similar problem, and found it was a fuse under the bonnet. Good luck.

[amba]

Changed my PAS pump last weekend for a second hander...fortunatley it has improved the steering dramatically,so I was lucky.
Replacement is not too bad a job,but you will need to remove the top hose from the coolant transfer pipe..hardest bit was getting the spring clip off the pipe as it had been fitted with the pronges the wrong way up..in all it took about 3 hours,so give it a go..if I can do it any one should be able to.

[mkaminski100]

Thanks guys
a.P/S fluid  level is normal. There is no foam as well.
b.Tire pressure is also ok, but even though – I had 1.5 bar once in my previous Omega and no problem with P/S.
c.This fuse – where is it? I suspect this is not a problem because when the system is cold it’s ok. Only when hot.
d.I know how difficult it is to put that bloody clip back. Last time I’ve spent an hour to do it and the engine was out of the car!!

[stevebubs]

I had similar once. PS fluid looked OK but added a little bit more and it went away.

[mkaminski100]

Mine looks like it's too much so that's definitely not a problem.
When it's hot, on lo revs and stationary, P/S doesn't work at all, nothing even though it's not making any noises...
Robsey will supply a pump an help me to replace it, so watch this space as I hope this will resolve P/S issue

[Seth]

Could it be a minute air leak in the feed hose to the pump?  If so it'll be a bit "frothy" when it starts playing up.

I doubt it ......
If this was the problem, you'd get a 'groaning' noise whenever you touched the steering wheel. Steering would probably feel 'lumpy' too.

[Andy B]

Mine looks like it's too much so that's definitely not a problem.
When it's hot, on lo revs and stationary, P/S doesn't work at all, nothing even though it's not making any noises...
Robsey will supply a pump an help me to replace it, so watch this space as I hope this will resolve P/S issue

I didn't touch the coolant transfer pipe when I changed  my pump.