broken power steering

[emo]

hia folks

i need help, my power steering on my 98 4.2 has stopped working. It started to squeal/squeak the other day kept fighting me with the steering. The squeal ran at the same speed as the engine but now the squeal has gone and the power steering doesnt work at all. Its damn heavy without it.

Anybody out there had the same problem or know what it might be. Also where i can get it fixed, I live in essex and was planning on going to Jools for servicing, but i dont fancy driving all that way without PAS.

Any advice would be really appreciated

emo

[davidd]

Make sure you have fluid in it.

D.

[olly]

davidd said: Make sure you have fluid in it.

D.

The fluid tank is right in the nose of the car, next to the drivers side bonnet hinge... Does sound like a lack of fluid (Esso ATF G - auto transmition fluid, is the correct fluid (replaced the Mobil 1 fluid when Esso & Mobile merged))

[joospeed]

good advice to go for the fluid first, but also what happens is the keyway drive to the pump shears, I've successfully managed to do a technical bodge on a couple of cars, but the only propercure is to replace the drive jackshaft for the pump (required the front timing cover to come off .. if you have air con it's gearbox out and virtually remove engine .. well you move it back and angle it to remove front cover anyway). However the route I favour on this is to go for an electric power steering pump, done one car and it's great! .. works out the difference between 1500 pounds for replacing the shaft against 500 pounds going electric. any local specialist should be able to help you out, or if you have a warranty and it actually is the shaft which has sheared then that's a mechanical breakage and should be covered. touch wood!

[james]

That sounds pretty similar to the problem I had on my 4.5. The woodruff key on the drive shaft for the PAS pump sheared. At first there was still a bit of grip on the shaft, so the pump would work most of the time, but cup out occasionally. The freaky thing was when it would come or go part way through a corner. Not nice

It was an engine out job, as the shaft was a bit chewed up, so the whole assembly of pumps and shaft had to be replaced.

James

[emo]

ooer, thats just ruined my day. i better get to shop and get some fluid to try that. If that doesnt work then i think that you may be getting a phone call off me jools.

thanks for your advice