Noisy power steering

[Knatter]

Last summer, the power steering of my Griffith 500 suddenly has started making an awful noise, specially when taking the car out of the box. When driving the noise has been less offending after 30' minuites or so but still ....

So I have contacted my TVR specialist who has told me that there are two possible reasoins: Either the steering rack is untight or the pump is faulty.

I have brought them the car, they have checked everything and then come to the conclusion that the pump has been the reason of that noise.So I have decided to exchange it. That has not cured the problem totally. There has been still some noise which has not been there a few months before- but it has been acceptable.

That was last August. I did not drive the car too much since, but there was never any problem since.

Two weeks ago I took the car out for a first drive this year. And the steering was noisy as before the exchange of the pump. Horrible!

The noise is particularly big in the first moments. After 10 minutes of driving it is reduced. What does that mean?

What is my problem?

Edited by Knatter on Monday 1st March 10:56

[Knatter]

No one any idea?

[TwinKam]

What sort of noise? Can you post a video?
Is it only noisy when moving the steering?
Have you put a 'stethoscope' onto the pump body? ...or even just a long metal bar held to your ear?
Is the fluid dirty? ...or have a metallic sheen?
There is a possibility that the 'new' pump is faulty, or maybe has failed due to contaminated fluid... was the system flushed through thoroughly when the pump was changed?

[lancepar]

Assuming you haven't done this.

I would first get the front wheels off the ground and with another working the steering from lock to lock, without and with assistance, check that nothing is catching.

[neutral 3]

The PAS pump got very noisy on my one and the steering got heavy. Fitted a new pump from Powers, but the steering is way too light now.

[Knatter]

Sorry for the delay, but here is the video:

https://youtu.be/rPgGfovuVJQ

It is awful, isn't it? Is it the pump which was new when installed last August?

[Knatter]

How can I check whether there is enough fluid in the system?

[Phud]

That sounds as if you have no fluid.

There is a black plastic tank on the right as you look at the pelnum cover in your engine bay, take off the lid and see,

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Phud said:

That sounds as if you have no fluid.

There is a black plastic tank on the right as you look at the pelnum cover in your engine bay, take off the lid and see,

Sounds like that to me too. OP, there will probably be drips everywhere though if that's the case. I had a union come loose on my Chimaera, is there random fluid on the floor/in the engine bay?

[Loubaruch]

When you refill the PS Reservoir I thought that you need to move the steering from lock to lock during filling to exclude air bubbles. Front wheels off the ground to aid movement.

If this is nonsense no doubt someone will say so!

[Classic Chim]

Loubaruch said:

When you refill the PS Reservoir I thought that you need to move the steering from lock to lock during filling to exclude air bubbles. Front wheels off the ground to aid movement.

If this is nonsense no doubt someone will say so!

This is correct. If air is or was present when you re fill the system after a few lock to lock turns level may drop in reservoir which is a clear sign.

[Knatter]

Yes, there are drips on the floor. That would explain why the change happened over the winter.

What fluid do I need? And where am I looking for the leak(s)?

[Knatter]

I have checked the plastic tank. It is almost empty.

So where is the likliest place of a leak?

[Classic Chim]

Leaks in rack seals so internally then slowly into your track rod gators if your very unlucky.
Or the usual hose connections so below the reservoir itself and then at the pump and again at the rack connections. If you have leaks trace it’s line back and it’s most likely a connector. As a get out of trouble fix you can sometimes just cut some hose off and re clamp it up.

[Classic Chim]

Knatter said:

I have checked the plastic tank. It is almost empty.

So where is the likliest place of a leak?

Trace the hoses from plastic tank ( reservoir ) to pump and then onto steering rack.

[Phud]

either the bottom on the bottle, there are two pipes one to and a return pipe or the connections at the steering motor, as someone else said if you can lift or get under your car that will be really good.

Any ATF CH 11S

Mobile 220 or 320 ATF