Saxo - power steering only works after a while

[john_p]

2000 Saxo VTR

Power steering doesn't work until about 10-15 mins after starting the car, can't see any blown fuses and the fluid level looks fine. Demister/blower work fine so it's not the ignition switch problem. Any ideas what to check ? Seems to have been some bodge work done to the relay near the electric pump so I wonder if this is worth testing first.

[Defcon5]

Relays are a common fault, definatley check them first

[Ferg]

Mine did this recently and it turned out to be the pump...£35 from a breaker, easy fix.

The live from the fusebox is only live when the alternator is charging. If you apply 12v to the green plug on the inner wing behind the light it should throw the relay and start the pump.

[john_p]

There's a black relay behind the offside headlight that looks like it's been spliced into the cable at some point, does this mean it's been replaced at some point in the past? Unsure, as the loom also feeds the radiator fan so might feed be that. I'll try bridging that relay with a cable and see if the pump is getting 12v.

[john_p]

So I did some Googling and it said.. try tapping the pump with a hammer

so I did

and it works!

I assume it will need a new PAS pump at some point or the existing one rebuilt..

[anonymous-user]

john_p said:

So I did some Googling and it said.. try tapping the pump with a hammer

so I did

and it works!

How very French

[annodomini2]

john_p said:

So I did some Googling and it said.. try tapping the pump with a hammer

so I did

and it works!

I assume it will need a new PAS pump at some point or the existing one rebuilt..

If you can get one for £35 then do that, for the amount of pain to rebuild it, I personally would settle for the £35 outlay.

[iggletiggle]

very common fault..

Happened all the time with my two previous saxos.

think pump brand new is around £90 not sure on breakers costs..

Fairly easy to fix.

[fartyswinefever]

Dont rush out and buy a pump!
Check the relay situated directly above the pump, on my 1.5 diesel Saxo it's a round plastic housing (grey). Pull out the relay and check for corrosion on the little spades that stick out on the relay itself, my power steering was intermittent, two of the four contacts were green with corrosion! After cleaning these contacts and dousing the relay in electronic cleaner the power steering is fine!
I've also heard that if your power steering, heater blower and rear screen all cease working at the same time it's probably a fault with the ignition barrel.