Matt&Natasha

Hi guys, not sure if this is the right topic heading to be putting this in, but my car developed a strange noise today.

When turning, the steering wheel gets a slight resistance but only at certain points, during the resistance there is a low groaning from under the car, then the wheel loosens up and its fine, until you turn the wheel a bit more and it happens again.

Any thoughts on what it may be? power steering pump maybe?

Matt

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like it. I'd be steering it straight to a reputable garage.

Matt&Natasha

thanks alcazar, I was thinking down that route too, booked in for Friday for a good look over to see if they can find the problem, is there an easy way to test the pump?

Linus27

Power steering belt slipping or power steering pump maybe. Is it more noticeable when starting cold or always like it?

Matt&Natasha

its doing it all the time, from start up, but doesn't get any better after warmed.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like the pump, then. decent garage will know, plus they are reasonably easy to do, very accessible.

1509joe

iTrader: (2)

Stupid question you check it for fluid.

bludgod

iTrader: (3)

i'd check for fluid as above, followed by replacing the belt - they can feel snaggy when the belt is slipping. My old bug I thought the pump was on the way out but new belt and it was right as rain.

Matt&Natasha

Yeah checked fluid that's fine, no leaks on pipework at all. Ordered a new pump to try and fit over the weekend. Any idea how much power steering fluid I will need to refill the system?

Matt&Natasha

anyone know how easy/hard replacing the pump is, I'm going to tackle it this weekend!

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Have you had it diagnosed specifically as at fault by a garage?

Matt&Natasha

the garage said the most likely thing was the power steering pump, I suppose the only real way to know is change it and see if the problem is solved.

Gambit

iTrader: (6)

change the belt just rather than the pump

Matt&Natasha

I was hoping that may be the case but the belt is a year old, all belts were changed then, and looks perfect with good tension

scoobyricht

iTrader: (4)

what condition is the steering knuckle in? the one that connects the steering column to the steering rack? if old n ****ty it will give the symptoms ur describing. i had similar and sprayed it with wd40 and it was as good as new for a while. low fluid might do it but it would be whining like mad when turning.

johned

Maybe a steering joint as above.

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

my steering went all tight from time to time, turned out to be knackered bottom ball joints

Matt&Natasha

Hi guys, tried to change the pump this weekend, (not as easy as first thought, some tight access to the bolts), got all the way through it, only to find the high pressure inlet on the bottom of the pump had a different thread size to my original one, even though the pump look identical in every other way, not impressed, put the old one back in again, (lost another knuckle!!) and topped up the fluid, tightened the belts etc, and the noise has gone! Not sure how, or if it will be back, but fingers crossed!

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Doesn't surprise me...the wrong part bit.

TBH, it REALLY bites me that they ask for a reg No. and STILL get it wrong.

My lad has a Clio 197 Sport, his reg No. comes out as a 2.0 litre Clio, NOT sport.

I've lost count of the number of wrong parts we've had, from brake parts to ball joints.

Matt&Natasha

it is very annoying alcazar, more annoying that in every other way it looks identical, and that I had left that particular hose till last to reconnect.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Ha ha...it's always the last nut/bolt/hose that causes the problem. I've lost count of the number of times I've undone five bolts perfectly, only to find the last one is seized and rounds off. If I'd started with that one.........