8 replies to this topic

[UberV70]

Something very fishy is happening with my power steering. Whats happening is really whenever i crank the wheel and make a turn, weather i'm parking, or making a right or left hand turn at a stop sign or stop light i get a rather loud mechanical moan. It sounds like the power steering motor is really straining and i can even feel that its a bit harder in the turning of the wheel. I checked my fluid level and it seems to be up, as for the colour, i'm not really sure how its supposed to look but its sort of orangey. Would changing my fluid solve this problem, or do i have to get a new power steering motor / whatever it takes?

Any help is appreciated.

[NataSS Inc]

If the fluid level is good then the bearing in the pump is going out on you. A pump swap wont be tough. Just set aside some time and get'er done. Check wrecking yards before going to the stealership. Some wrecking yards will offer 30-90 and sometimes 1 year warantees with the parts they give you.

I have a leaki in my stearing rack somewhere and have to constantly fill the resivoir. I'd be a hell of alot happier if it was the pump going. For me it looks like I have to repalce the entire steering rack.

[Crabolsky850]

If the fluid level is good then the bearing in the pump is going out on you. A pump swap wont be tough. Just set aside some time and get'er done. Check wrecking yards before going to the stealership. Some wrecking yards will offer 30-90 and sometimes 1 year warantees with the parts they give you.

I have a leaki in my stearing rack somewhere and have to constantly fill the resivoir. I'd be a hell of alot happier if it was the pump going. For me it looks like I have to repalce the entire steering rack.

Right you are. Ebay for the pump. Although someone posted a quick fix using magnets about a week ago.

I actually just replaced my steering rack yesterday. Not cheap, but worth doing.
I noticed that my power steering pump was making noise so I checked the levels and it was empty.
Turns out it was a leaking rack. FCP $235 for the rack plus a $150 core charge. 3 hours labour plus an alignment.

[ericutexas]

$59 at http://www.erievovo.com/specials.asp. Haven't done business with them personally, but I've heard nothing but good things about them and a lot of the guys here have gotten turbos from them with good results. They actually offer a free lifetime warranty on many of their used parts, but I'm not sure which parts this applies to. Try changing the fluid first, though - any type of ATF will do. Take a turkey baster and take out all the fluid in the reservoir, top it off with new fluid, drive it around a while and repeat the whole process 2-3 times to change out the fluid.

[UberV70]

If the fluid level is good then the bearing in the pump is going out on you. A pump swap wont be tough. Just set aside some time and get'er done. Check wrecking yards before going to the stealership. Some wrecking yards will offer 30-90 and sometimes 1 year warantees with the parts they give you.

I have a leaki in my stearing rack somewhere and have to constantly fill the resivoir. I'd be a hell of alot happier if it was the pump going. For me it looks like I have to repalce the entire steering rack.

yeah the fluid levels seem to be allright, but i will check again when i've let the car sit for a few hours just to make sure. And if it is indeed the pump - there are a few volvo wreckers around and i'm sure i can get ahold of another one and make a day out of it. Thanks for your help!

[James100]

One angle to look at is this:

I had a problem similar to yours and this cured it....

Use a turkey baster (.99 at 99 cents store) and magnet ($6 OSH) methood ...Use baster to remove fluid ..do it several times....Put the magnet in with plastic tie strap..keep strap away from hole....(99cents store or auto store) ..see if it goes away in a few days or a week..
Cleaning power steering fluid with a magnet

OSH is Orchard Supply Hardware...Hardware store or maybe Home Depot for magnet

Oh yea.....if it works for you post back......it worked on my car but this mechanical moan I had only happened when turning as I was backing out of my garage and then again went I went forward as I straightened the wheel.....It did not happen at stop signs so your condition sounds more severe

Edited by James100, 15 March 2006 - 11:51 PM.

[Karlson]

any bubles inside? did u search before post?

[UberV70]

I'd just like to follow up to this post and say that i let my car sit for a whole day just to let things settle inside. I checked the power steering fluid again and it was definitly low - wasent even touching the dipstick . Anyways i went out and bought some automatic transmission fluid and topped er up, drove around for a little and the noise seems to be gone.

Now the next thing to figure out is where did the fluid go that WAS in there...... hmmmmmmmmm

[johnkalajian]

If your rack seal is leaking, the "missing" fluid may have leaked into the steering boots on the ends of your steering rack. Check your boots for fluid.