Power steering fluid check/top up. Do myself?

[mrmr96]

Hi. I have a 306 1.9Dturbo. The steering feels a bit heavy at times and sometimes makes donkey noises while cornering, especially if pressing on a bit. I've read around a bit and it seems that this could be caused by low fluid level in the power steering system. So:

1. How can I check the level? (Is it something I can do myself?)
2. How will I know if it's too low?
3. If it needs topping up, is there a partiuclar fluid I should be topping up with? (And where can I buy it?) And is it ok to do this myself too?

Sorry if these are daft questions, I don't have much experience of working on cars.

Thanks in advance.

[wildoliver]

Not at all, unlike most of the plebs that have been posting lately your question was sensible and readable!

Yes you can check and top up yourself.

The easiest way to do jobs like this is get your handbook out, look up power steering and it will point you right to the reservoir, it will be in the bonnet area somewhere, depending on car possibly have a yellow or black screw off lid, and a pipe will come off the bottom and go to the power steering pump, but use your handbook as there will also be a brake fluid and possibly clutch reservoir which could be confused if your not used to working on cars.

To check take off the lid and look inside, there will be a level mark on the side but as a guide it wants to be just over half full usually.

Again refer to your manual for the correct fluid to use, I would imagine bog standard atf but check please.

It is good practice though once a week to go under the bonnet and check oil level, water level, brake fluid, clutch fluid (if it isn't a cable clutch), power steering fluid and washer bottle. You can catch a lot of potential problems this way and always have a quick shufty around for leaks and other issues while your doing it.

[mrmr96]

Thanks for your help. I checked the power steering fluid level and it was very very low. (Like WAY below minimum level)

I checked the manual and it reccomends Esso, but my local halfords only stocks castrol. I asked the guy at the desk who looked my model up on the computer and identified the equivalent castrol fluid which was £7.49. Apparently it's ok to use different brands so long as they use the same 'base' for the fluid.

So I topped it up just now and drove round the block. Noise has completely gone.

In terms of why the car lost the fluid in the first place - I've not got to the bottom of that. I'll see how it goes and keep and eye on the resevoir to see if it starts to fall again.

Thanks very much for your help.

[C. Grimsley]

I run a garage and specilaise in Peugeot's, this problem is quite common and 9 times out of 10 it ends up being the power steering ram seals that fail (this parts has the fluid in it and acts as an assist on the rack itself), this can be changed seperately and the part alone is about £100, they are not hard to fit (about an hour, but as its under the car its a bit of a messy job.

Check under your car and at the back of the engine look for any leaks, if so there will be a a red oily fluid this will have coated the whole underside of the car, if it is leaking obviousley it will need replcing.

CArl C.G.Cars Leicester