Weird Power Steering

[nick heppinstall]

Over the last few months my 400 has developed a really weird Power Steering problem. Sometimes you get more power assistance than others ? It's never toatlly off but comes and goes. I stupidly let the Power Steering fluid get low but it has been topped up. Any ideas ?

[bobfrance]

Did you by any chance drip power steering fluid onto the PS belt/pulley? It's possible it could create those kind of symptoms.

Otherwise I suppose you need to look at the condition & tightness of the belt and if that seems fine then it could be seals going within the rack itself.

If it is seals you can prolong their life (before reconditioning) by using an addtive in the PS fluid.
(I can't remember what i't's called at the mo' but I can find out for you)

Hope my random guesses help.

Bob.

[shpub]

Could also be the steering column UJs sticking so simulating the feel of no PAS....

[350matt]

Sorry to say it sounds like the pump is on the way out, I had this occur on a Granada, changing the pump for a 10 quid scrappy item fixed it. The pump is probably off a SD1

Matt

[wedg1e]

Hmmm... these pumps should be virtually indestructible. They use the 'centrifugal roller' principle and as long as the fluid doesn't run out it's an almost ideal environment - all the moving parts get a constant bath in lubricant! I have a spare pump which is ex-Montego/ Maestro and is identical to the one on my 390 apart from the Monstro unit having a shorter filler neck. The rack is however a Ford item; I guess that they must all work together within a wide tolerance of pressures etc.
Sure you have no kinked pipes?

Ian

[rev-erend]

I had to have a new PS pump on my SEAC - the
bearings were totally shagged.. I did not
get the symptoms you had though.

The pump was expensive (several hundred) - so shop
around.

[kevsmev]

Although you have topped up, it may need to be bled. Not sure about the rover pump, but on the Ford system, once there is air in the system after topping up you need to bleed any air out by raising the wheels, run about 1500 rpm and get someone to slowly turn from lock to lock keeping an eye on the level until no more air bubbles are seen.
Kev