Power Steering death

Stoney · Post by **Stoney** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 6:40 pm

Long story short, I'm getting the lude back on the road again after 5 years of sitting on hard standing. Apart from needing to replace the battery she fired up pretty much straight away.

However the power steering was whining and squeeling like a stuck pig. So I took it upon myself to do a full system flush In the hopes that it was just a bit grotty. Having now drained and refilled as per the service manual, (turning to full lock each side to drain and also bleed air) I have lost all 'power' in the steering?!

Do you think that the less than five minutes the pump was running without fluid for the drain and fill has borked it?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Stoney

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 7:21 pm

Welcome.

So are you saying that the system was run for 5 mins with no fluid in it and the pump was screaming?
If so then yes, that could very easily have knackered the pump. Or the system could be blocked with swarf.

Can you see fluid being pumped through the reservoir when the engine is running?

If not, you'll need to drain the system, change the pump, fit a new one, refill and try again, I'm afraid.

(I'm assuming it's not just a slipping pump belt?)

Stoney · Post by **Stoney** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 8:05 pm

It wasn't run dry as such,in order to flush the system you have to have the engine running and turn the wheel from full lock to full lock to get all the lovely old stuff out. This was fine was still running at this point.

Turned off car, reconnected the hose to the reservoir and filled up to the level. To 'fill' the system I then turned the car on again and repeated the above to bleed the air out, when doing this I had to top up the reservoir a little as the pipes took up the fluid. At this point the power steering felt smoother than its ever done, until all of a sudden no assist at all.

I suppose a new pumps probably the quickest easiest option, good job I bought more than 1 bottle of the fluid today

Thanks for the quick response

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:07 pm

Ah, I haven't ever drained it with the engine running - that will run the pump with no lubrication. I have just drained it static, then refilled and run it up. That doesn't do a 100% change, but ensures you never run the pump dry.

Have you taken it for a spin at all, or just tried it static?
The power steering is speed sensitive, via a valve in the gearbox, could be that is air locked. Try that before anything else.

Stoney · Post by **Stoney** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:28 pm

Probably should have done a static drain. She hasn't got an mot at the moment and is currently in my back garden, so taking it out isn't straightforward. (especially as I have to remove the fence to get it out!)

But maybe a couple of beers can persuade some assistants round some point this week to help get it back on the road for testing before I go any further.

When you say it might be air locked (very likely considering my total drain) any suggestions on clearing it, or are you implying that underway it might clear the airlock?

YouTube · Post by **Sailor** » Tue Jun 21, 2016 12:55 am

It may be a silly question, but have you checked throughout for leaks? There's good recent evidence that 4G and 5G hoses and pipes are beginning to give way.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Tue Jun 21, 2016 6:49 am

Suggesting just to try driving it around a bit and that might clear any air lock.

Stoney · Post by **Stoney** » Wed Jun 22, 2016 11:48 am

Fingers crossed she will get a spin this evening, it seemed like such a good idea putting it in the back garden a few years ago, now i'm not so sure!

Stoney · Post by **Stoney** » Wed Jun 22, 2016 8:25 pm

Well shes free of the back garden and back on the driveway. Now the power steering seems to have regressed to the state it was in pre flush. So i'm now of the opinion that it is a dodgey pump unit. MOT tomorrow is seeming less likely now!