Occasionally heavy steering

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:47 am

Howdy folks

Well, after 7000 miles in three months, the Green Tiger has developed something that could be considered an issue.

The power steering will occasionally cut out. Quite alarming. First time it happened I did check the level (for the first time since the BXagon...) and it was quite low but it should be ok now. Generally only does it within the first few miles of a journey. Any ideas?

Ian

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:32 pm

LMH pump getting tired

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:10 pm

As per Ken, although it could be also the fdv acting up until the lhm starts to flow & gets a bit warmer. Whats the condition of the lhm? If its old or an unknown quantitiy, buy some hydraflush & use that for a couple of thousand miles & then re-fill with nice clean lhm, may sort out the blocked fdv if thats the problem, unless its a tired pump as ken's mentioned.....

Funnily enough, i've had erratic power steering on my txd for the last 18 months, provisionally cured by changing the old lhm for hydraflush, then since the weather has started getting cold the steering feels notchy & pulsey until after a few miles, possibly a tired pump? If it was, wouldnt the problem remain though?

the_baron · Post by **the_baron** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:34 pm

Judging by the state of the coolant when we dropped it in France, I'd say thats a good idea.

I might have a gallon of Hydraflush kicking about if you need some.

As I've never used it what do you do? Just pour it in and change the LHM and clean the filters? Do BX's have a filter in the main LHM tank like a DS?

cheers

M

Aerodynamica · Post by **Aerodynamica** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:38 pm

I'm with Ken on this too - it's less likely to be the FDV as the steering is supplied 'before' the fdv splits it. If anything the FDV tends to affect the other systems when it plays up (is jams up like mine did!)

I'd also check the rubber suction pipe of the pump for looseness and/ or splits drawing air. But deffo change the LHM and clean the filters to eliminate

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:43 pm

I'll defer to my more learned comrades in the diagnosis. Baron, try the search function, i did a full explanation of exactly this about a month ago to someone else.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:35 pm

Righty-ho. It's getting on for service time, so it sounds like a flush would be a good idea. It certainly doesn't do it all of the time, but then I guess a lot of my driving is done in a straight line, so it's hard to tell!

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:19 am

My power steering was intermittant on cold days, before the car had warmed up.

It was the pump. The steering takes a lot of fluid, compared to the other
functions, so this is what fails first.

I think the fluid gets thicker when cold, but when it and the pump warm up a bit it starts to work again.

Agreed it is very alarming, and probably a bit dangerous too.

Changing the pump is easy, but primming it can be a pain.
This has been covered in this forum before.

Mike

PS thanks for the car power lead.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:44 am

Thanks Mike. Glad the cable got back to you.

Oh well. Guess I'll be on the look-out for a new pump then. Any point taking the second-hand route or is that just false economy? Should have taken one off that immaculate BX diesel we found in that French scrapyard!

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:08 am

I was lucky, in that I found one in a scrapyard early this year, which looked to have had a fairly recent pump replacement. (Prior to that my symptoms were exactly the same as yours through the winter - come the spring all was OK again). Given that you'd have to be lucky simply to find a BX in a scrapyard now, I think you'd be better off asking Santa (aka Rachael!) very nicely...
I think they're about £175 for a re-con pump from GSF.

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:09 am

Secondhand ones have to be first choice, pricewise

A n/a 17d would be best as they don't have PAS so the hasn't done so much work. However there are not too many of those around. A new one will cost you about £100

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:31 pm

Well, I don't mind buying new. Just because the car's worth about 50p doesn't mean I won't spend money on it. £100 is still less than about an hour's depreciation on a new car! (I haven't actually worked that out...)

It needs doing though. Lost the PA completely at times on the way back from the shops today and when its icy, the last thing you want is unpredictable steering!

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:22 pm

Seems that everyone I speak to has a different theory on this one. Most popular theory is FDV or pinion summit or other. So, any ideas how to isolate what exactly is at fault? None of the components seem cheap so I don't want to end up spending loads of money to not cure the problem.

Aerodynamica · Post by **Aerodynamica** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:59 pm

Well have you changed the fluid for the flush stuff and filters yet?

might as well do the easy stuff!

Check the HP pump belt is MEGA tight and check for suction leaks on the rubber pipe - I'd do the basics before looking at the heavier stuff like FDVs etc.

Tho the FDV is easier to remove and dismantle than the pinion valve!

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:03 pm

Thanks Graeme. Think I'll treat it to a flush at service time and take it from there. I will check the belt tension though thinking about it - there's a bit of a whistle when it's damp and while I put that down to alternator belt, it could well be the HP one. Or both. Hoping for a bit of a thaw so I can work on the car a bit!