Power steering not working on GC8 FIXED!

[dan]

The power steering is not working on my GC8.

I pulled the return hose off and started the car, fluid came out in a steady flow. So it's not the pump.

Any ideas? I don't have a check engine light/code coming up for the power steering.

[dan]

Anyone??

[Joker]

replaced the fluid? has it burnt somehow?

[dan]

I'll replace all the fluid this weekend but the fluid is still nice and red. I'm wondering if the rack may need rebuilding....

[Guest lan_killa]

from memory there is a single black wire with a white plug that goes into the base of the power steering pump. Make sure this is connected. Although you say you have a code for power steering showing... does the power steer actually work... ie steering is able to be easily turned while motor running

[kamineko]

 lan_killa said:

from memory there is a single black wire with a white plug that goes into the base of the power steering pump. Make sure this is connected. Although you say you have a code for power steering showing... does the power steer actually work... ie steering is able to be easily turned while motor running

i don't think that wire will hinder the pump. i think its a load switch that tells the ecu to bump up the idle

[driftrex]

 lan_killa said:

from memory there is a single black wire with a white plug that goes into the base of the power steering pump. Make sure this is connected. Although you say you have a code for power steering showing... does the power steer actually work... ie steering is able to be easily turned while motor running

that black wire will not make the powersteering not work, mine is not connected as i use another pump that doesnt have it now, as far as i know all it is is a pressure switch for the ecu to idle up the engine a bit.

if pump is pumping and fluid is nice and red/pink then i'd certainly be looking at the steering rack.

and he said he doesnt have any codes, which of course he wont as ecu doesnt control powersteering.

edit - kamineko beat me to it lol

[Guest lan_killa]

gah... my bad...

I read the original post as he was having codes showing... (must lay off the midweek burbons )

now that ive re read it then yeh... something wrong at the rack end of things.

[dan]

I flushed the power steering and put new fluid in. Still not working. So I pulled the pump out and had a look.

From what I could see. The little silver veins fall down as it spins and pump the fluid through. I spun it by hand and not all of them would fall down. Some seemed to be a little stuck.

Also you can see a black wire coming out of the pump on the left. I can't find an opposite plug for this to plug into.

I might soak the above over night in kero or something to try and give them a clean and see if it operates better. Any ideas? Is there any thing that would stand out showing me the pump was not working? I have it in pieces.

[kamineko]

cool... never seen the insides of that pump

just a thought though, the pieces may not fall down when turned by hand but when spinning quickly the centrifugal force would much greater

[Guest the_return_of_the_jedi]

hey at pick a part i got a pump and lines for $50, not bad considering it would be cheaper than re building it, and will get you back on the road, or any wreckers you might get it cheaper, who knows? bin the old one or rebuild it, ask in the WTD section

here: http://www.clubsub.org.nz/forum/index.php/board,13.0.html

good luck, hope it works out for ya

8)

[dan]

Hmmm, I must be trying to trick myself. I think the pump is fine. I just wish it was stuffed as the problem is pointng to the rack if the pumps fine....

[aim]

Oooh a sliding vein pump, just learned about these in my fluids class the other day. Cool to actually see the insides of one Those are a pretty rare pump (application wise) now days.

[Guest boostin]

Those pumps rarely fail. They either get real noisy or the front bearing collapses. They don't stop pumping though. I'd be looking at the rack.

I've got a spare rack here from a BG twin turbo if you wanna try it. It was working fine when removed.

[dan]

I read in an old post that there's a power steering ECU, a silver box attached to the steering coloum? What does this control exactly?

[Guest boostin]

I'm pretty sure V3's don't have them.

[Guest the_return_of_the_jedi]

doesnt that control the "sporty steering " as found on early RS legacys?

[Guest boostcut]

+1 those pumps never fail. you could run them dry and they would pump after refilling. id say that the valving in the rack is poked. and the vanes wont move when you turn it by hand, its centrifugal force that throws them out.

[dan]

I bought another power steering rack from a CS menber in the weekend. I'll be fitting it with new tie rod ends this week and see if the power steering works.

[dan]

So, I got another rack. Replaced the tie rod end's with brand new one's and a set of whiteline bush's. Put the whole lot in today with new fluid and the power steering still don't work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any ideas?

[Guest the_return_of_the_jedi]

check the power steering fuse?

[dan]

 the_return_of_the_jedi said:

check the power steering fuse?

.....there isn't a power steering fuse..... The power steering isn't controlled by electrics...

[Guest boostin]

It must be the pump then.

[log1call]

That pump will have a pressure relief valve somewhere on it to regulate maximum pressure... Check it's not stuck open or broken it's spring.

Also, flow alone is not enough.. you need to check it has pressure... hundreds of pounds of pressure.

[Guest boostcut]

the pump wont produce pressure. its the resistance to flow that makes pressure. so i would be looking at the relief valve in the pump. also, in behind the centre of the pump with the vanes in it, there is a large spring and plate, it is an over pressure safety device. the spring may have broken.