Retrofit electric steering pump on a MK1

[JimmyZZ]

As in the title: has somebody done it before?
Are there any strings attached?
Where is the relais and fuse located on the Mk2?

Thanks in advance folks!

JimmyZZ

[Basil Brush]

I've done it on my early Mk1 using a 2nd hand Saxo pump so it came with wiring, relay and reservoir etc. I had to mount the pump on the other side of the engine bay as the aircon pipe from the pump points straight forward on mine, whereas later cars have a 90 degree downward bend so the pipe clears the pump.

[NCE 61]

The relay for the PS pump motor is under the bonnet grey item near the oil tank in this picture:-



Some relocate this inside the car for better access as the relay's do seem to fail oscassionally even the uprated 60 amp ones.

The main fuse(80 amp) for the pump is located in the battery compartment and the supply to the relay is from the lambda heater circuit.

No heard of this being done on a Tuscan, but must be possible.

[JimmyZZ]

That is all I needed to know.
Thank you all!

[dvs_dave]

Curious as to why you'd want to go to the effort of doing this? It doesn't make the car any better to drive or quicker, and just adds complication by way of there now also being electrics involved in what was previously a very reliable entirely mechanical system

[Sagi Badger]

I've done it. 2nd hand pump with remote res. Braided hoses and away you go. Pulled a feed straight off the alternator, ring tagged, soldered and heat shrunk, and used the B+ (think that's the one) terminal to trigger the relay, saves all the additional wiring and is simples. 80A fuse in line.

The benefit is a tad less inertia. If you read my posts you will realise I do anything to lose inertia. Also means you don't have to worry about that belt....

J

[JimmyZZ]

dvs_dave said:

Curious as to why you'd want to go to the effort of doing this? It doesn't make the car any better to drive or quicker, and just adds complication by way of there now also being electrics involved in what was previously a very reliable entirely mechanical system

My pump does make a little noise. So I inquired the price of a new one. The quote for the ZF part was mindboggling (way over 300 Euros). I tried and managed to find a used electric pump for just 60,- Euros. Bought this and the rest of the parts needed (relais, fuse, wiring) for 40,- Euros.
Now it all sits in the man cave and with the rain and even snow that is announced here in Bavaria the next days I think I will give it a go. As said before it gets you rid of changing the belt which I did shortly ago and that was a complete pita. I don't care about inertia. My engine seems to have enough ooomph.

[JimmyZZ]

Sagi Badger said:

I've done it. 2nd hand pump with remote res. Braided hoses and away you go. Pulled a feed straight off the alternator, ring tagged, soldered and heat shrunk, and used the B+ (think that's the one) terminal to trigger the relay, saves all the additional wiring and is simples. 80A fuse in line.

The benefit is a tad less inertia. If you read my posts you will realise I do anything to lose inertia. Also means you don't have to worry about that belt....

J

I think you meant the D+ to trigger it.
The B+ is the one to charge the battery

[Sagi Badger]

Yep, b or d all the same when your eye sight is bad like mine. Think some alternators have three terminals others have two. Anyway one of these livens up when you spin them up is right handy in this situation.

Done it yet? I found the pipe connections on the rack a right pain.

J

[smighall]

Where does the electric pump actually sit?

[JimmyZZ]

smighall said:

Where does the electric pump actually sit?

On the picture above you see it beyond the Coolant reservoir under the blue hose.
A braided hose goes to the front from it.
I mounted it on the other side where in this car the grey relais is located.

[JimmyZZ]

Sagi Badger said:

Yep, b or d all the same when your eye sight is bad like mine. Think some alternators have three terminals others have two. Anyway one of these livens up when you spin them up is right handy in this situation.

Done it yet? I found the pipe connections on the rack a right pain.

J

Yes it is all sorted now. Your advice to use the d+ to trigger the relais was gold.
Pipes were no problem, left them in place. Easy to fit them from the mechanical to electric part.
Thanks for your help!
Best regards
JimmyZZ

[Sagi Badger]

JimmyZZ said:

Yes it is all sorted now. Your advice to use the d+ to trigger the relais was gold.
Pipes were no problem, left them in place. Easy to fit them from the mechanical to electric part.
Thanks for your help!
Best regards
JimmyZZ

Glad to be of help. The simple way is the best in my book, why splice into the loom when you have the d+

Cheers

J

[Basil Brush]

JimmyZZ said:

On the picture above you see it beyond the Coolant reservoir under the blue hose.
A braided hose goes to the front from it.
I mounted it on the other side where in this car the grey relais is located.

Did you have the same issue as me with the aircon pipe?

[JimmyZZ]

No aircon, no problems.