Whirring from Steering??

[arandle]

Hi Folks,

Got a niggling little problem on my Chim which I've tried to ignore for the last week but I've come to the conclusion it aint gonna fix itself. Can anyone shed any light?

At slow speed there is a reasonably loud whiring/moaning noise from under the bonnet when I turn the steering wheel significantly, I think (but could be imagining) that the hydraulic sounding hiss you get from the steering is also louder than it used to be.

I was wondring if it could be something as simple as my steering UJ's needing a regrease because of all the wet weather recently?? (this used to happen a lot on my old S and you could feel the steering getting harder as the grease wore off - of course with power assisted steering I guess the system just works harder as this occurs).

...or is this something more sinister like a leaky hydraulic pump or similar?

Is this one I will need a Tiv specialist to look at or can I risk at my local garage???

Any views/advice/experience much appreciated - thanks for your help as ever....

- Andy.

[shpub]

Probably low fluid level so the pump is pumping air. Top up and check for leaks.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[beano1197]

My Griff, being the complete animal that it is, wants to constantly mark its territory. It does this by weeping a drop of PAS fluid every day - thus you can tell which is my "spot" in the works car park.

Apparently it is quite common - the rack can be reconditioned (and I am told it will be better than when it left the factory?!) for a few hundred £££s. Because I use mine every day it has never been bad enough to cause me to take it off the road for three or four days.

If I am not diligent enough to keep the PAS level topped up, it lets me know in just the same way you describe - starts as a little whisper when going for full lock and increases to be annoying at any slow manouevre.

[arandle]

Thanks a million Steve and Beano,

As you can tell I'm a technical moron and this theory of a leak in the system sounds like it's a good one - as come to mention it, I have had a small leak of some sort on the garage floor of late (towards front of car where I assume the steering rack would be!). Looks/smells like clean oil - I assume this is infact steering fluid.

Is PAS fluid a standard item? (ie I can get from Halfords) and I assume even I could top up the reservoir, assuming I can identify it - luckily of course I have your book Steve so I'm sure that'll help me.

Am I safe to just keep topping it up untli the next service (months away - only just had it done) or do I need to go through the hassle of getting it to a specialist? It's hassle as this is my everyday car too and the logisitcs of getting it down and back to Mr Batty are a real pain when you live in Buckinghamshire!

Thanks again for your help, if anyone can assist on these further points I'd be very grateful.

- Andy.

[shpub]

If the leak is red, it's either PAS or gearbox fluid.
Blue is coolent. Oil coloured is oil...

ATF220 or Dextron III compatible stuff. Search for ATF220 and you will find a whole set of specs I posted. I would simply watch and see how bad it is.

I did have a pipe split last month so it is worth looking for obvious things. Common place is under the pump. The pipes are TVR specials.

All this and more in the new edition BTW.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

>> Edited by shpub on Tuesday 5th November 14:33

[beano1197]

shpub said: If the leak is red, it's either PAS or gearbox fluid.
Blue is coolent. Oil coloured is oil...

And if it's yellow, you took the last corner a bit faster than you meant to.......

[jtong]

FWIW, the PAS in my 99 Chim has been whining quietly ever since I got it. The PAS fluid is topped up to the top of the dipstick. I guess it's just one of those things?