Power steering problem

[hornmeister2000]

Hi All, hope you had a good weekend.

I wonder if someone could advise me on a power steering problem I have. It's been noisy for about a year but has recently got a lot worse. It screeches and the steering is jumpy when doing slow manouvering. It sometimes screeches when I pull away now as well as turning just about any corner, roundabout, etc. I had the bonnet up on Saturday and saw that the belt was slipping so replaced it and it's nice a tight but has't improved at all. Also, the fluid level is fine.

I'm guessing it's that black thing in the engine that's the problem so will try and get a new one. I assume (hope) they're availble from Rover or reconditioned somewhere? However, before I waste my money unnecessarily, is there anything else that could be causing the problem?

Please help!

Neil

[E_T_V]

Couple of things to check:

RE-check that the belt isn't slipping (you might have oil or something else on the pulley) The screech is most likely coming from there

If you can take the belt off check that the pump pulley spins freely. if not it maybe a dud bearing which may (or may not) be replacable.

Check that the pump doesn't need bleeding, (some pumps do and some don't - I've not got a clue on maestro PAS) Air in the system can cause all sorts of horid feelings and noises.

Check that the rack isn't too tight (jack the front wheels off of the ground and with the engine off turn the rack from lock to lock by tugging on one of the front wheels. You'll feel any horrid tight spots or worse still grinding. There is some adjustment but I've never done it myself as I don't have PAS.

Someone will be along with more exspeience of PAS in a while but there are some things to be going on with

Hope some of that helps

Dan

[hornmeister2000]

Thanks Dan. The belt is still slipping - that's definitely what's causing the noise, but the belt is nice and tight. The wheel attached to the pump is VERY stiff so I'm guessing that's the problem. Haven't tried jacking the car up but I'll have a look next weekend. The problem is that I don't actually know how PAS works so it makes it difficult locating the problem!

[G Force]

Hi there, from what you have said you may have a problem with the pas pump, it certainly should not be VERY tight to turn with the belt off, but pas pumps are a little stiffer to turn than say a free altenator. I would check the altenator belt tension as in 9 out of 10 cases it is that belt that is slipping giving the impression that it is the pas belt making the noise. This is because the pas belt drives off the water pump pulley which is in turn driven by the altenator. Turning the steering loads up the altenator belt causing the altenator belt to slip at the water pump the pas pump stops dead giving the impression its the pas belt problem.

cheers gary ;)

[hornmeister2000]

I'm going to try these things at the weekend but called Rover just now to enquire about the price of new pumps. £227+VAT!!!!!!!

So, looks like I'll be off to a scrap yard then. Can anyone tell me which Maestros or Montegos have compatible pumps or if they're available reconditioned anywhere?

Many thanks,

Neil

[Maria]

You could try http://www.power-steering.co.uk/ for a recon one, or www.montego-and-maestro.co.uk for a second hand unit.

[hornmeister2000]

Thanks. In the meantime, is it OK to remove the belt and drive? Will this cause any damage or will it just be like driving a car without PAS?

[G Force]

Originally posted by hornmeister2000
Thanks. In the meantime, is it OK to remove the belt and drive? Will this cause any damage or will it just be like driving a car without PAS?

Steering will be far stiffer than a car that does not have pas as standard, if you just remove belt, the gear ratio is different. Not something i would recomend. :)

[Simon]

And of course the slipping causes the steering to jump around and judder. Try the scrappy, that's where I got my pump, and it's fine.

[mgdavid]

I have a good spare pump should you need one. email david.smith@stones.com

[hornmeister2000]

Hi All, and thanks for your help with this.

Had a good look at it on Saturday and the pump seems fine - can turn quite easily with my hand. The problem seems to be with the alternator belt not being tight enough. I can't get enough tension in it, though. It's been squealing for at least a year, and since then it's had the engine reconditioned so they must have had the belt off then but it still squealed when it came back. It's been a lot worse since I replaced the alternator about 3 weeks ago and couldn't get it very tight.

Does anyone have any experience of this and know any solutions?

Many thanks,

Neil

[SimonR]

Hi there Neil!

Why couldn't you get it very tight? Have you reached the limit of travel on the adjustment mechanism? Also, how old is the belt? If it's very old then a replacement may cure the problem for a few quid - you'd be surprised how worn a V-belt can be, even it if appears to be okay. This is especially true if it's been squealing

If it's still squealing then check that it's a)in line with the pulley and b) the mounting is firm and doesn't allow the alternator to be pulled off line when the pulley turns.

That last problem ocurred on a mate's Vauxhall Ashtray - it took a god long while to work out that the rubber bushes on the alternator bracket had decomposed and were allowing quite a lot of play....

[G Force]

Hi, I just use a suitable lever, such as a tyre lever or large screw driver to get the tension right. If you are still having trouble a new belt will probably help. :)

[hornmeister2000]

It's not at the limit of the adjuster - it's just a problem levering it hard enough. Tried 2 weeks ago with a neighbours help as well. Seems to me that there should be a better way of tightening it. It is a new belt so that shouldn't be the problem

[Simon]

You can lever it so it tightens, but please don't overdo it because it can damage bearings/cause wear. When I converted to PAS (1.6 S series) at Easter I adjusted the PAS belt to manufacturer's spec but it squealed (new belt, pulley, everything). Subseqiently a little applied leverage tightened the belt so it wouldn't make a noise but I felt (well developed sense of mechanical sympathy/human torque wrench) that any more tension might start to strain things. It's a fine line.