losing steering

[barry badger]

My txd has started intermittently losing the power steering. some times it happens when i brake and steer other times when i'm just steering, this has only happened since repairing the osf inner wing, during the course of the repairs i had to remove the lhm reservoir so i took the opportunity to clean the filters and clean out the reservoir and refill it with fresh fluid. The reservoir is definitely filled to the correct level I've checked it by looking inside. Has the fdv gone faulty coincidentally or does something need bleeding.

[JayW]

Possibilities 1 & 2: Either you've not bed all the air out, or during the removal/refitting it's sucked up some crap which is now blocking the FDV filters.

[MULLEY]

Sounds like air trapped in the system.

[Dollywobbler]

Could there be an air leak on the main feed pipe? The movement may have cracked the pipe or perhaps a fitting isn't tight enough. There's a big draw on that pipe when the pump is pumping. I'd also recommend pulling the filters out just to make sure they're still in place. I found one of them floating around in the Mk1's tank at one stage! Remove the fuel filter (if applicable) to get more access. Should be just possible to get the filters out by moving the tank without having to disconnect everything.

[MULLEY]

Did you prime the hydraulic pump when you put everything back together?

[barry badger]

I didn't prime the pump, I just started the engine and waited for the car to rise. One of the pipes did break, it was one of the three small pipes that come off the bottom of a large pipe that goes onto the reservoir. It broke off at the base so i reattached it using a push in pipe connector, there is no sign of any fluid from the join.

[MULLEY]

That'll be why there is air in the system. What i'd try & do is to put the car on the low setting, relieve the pressure via the pressure regulator screw. Then prime the pump. You should see bubbles appear in the funnel of the spout as you poor lhm down the pump pipe. As soon as the bubbles stop, quickly re-attach the pipe onto the lhm tank. Then with the car in high, turn the bleed pressure screw on the regulator on & off approx 10 times & once tightend back up hopefully the car will then rise. With the car still running, even if it doesn't rise, turn the steering from lock to lock until the power steering returns & then that should hopefully be all the air out of the system as it will have been purged into the lhm tank.

Alternatively to doing the above, just try the steering lock to lock to see if that works instead of messing about with priming the pump & faffing with the pressure regulator bleed screw, but if it doesn't follow the above. Jobbed

[Dollywobbler]

Mustard mitt, I've never primed a pump and in my experience, that wait to see if the car will actually lift up again doesn't seem to depend on it. (having seen both my BXs get primed and still take AGES to play). New BX has some steering assistance issues though. Time to inspect the filters methinks...

[JayW]

I've also never once primed a pump. The fact that the car rises & falls means the pump has fluid in it so it won't need priming. Citrobics & lock2lock on the steering several times will clear any trapped air (unless of course it's still sucking it in.

[MULLEY]

There you go, some different opinions, feel free to try them all & let us know which one worked for you

[JayW]

There you go, some different opinions, feel free to try a large hammer or a finely carved cricket bat & let us know which one worked for you

[MULLEY]

[barry badger]

I've tried bleeding the pump and opening and closing the bleed screw to no avail, next step is to take the reservoir off to check the filters again. I'm not entirely sure it is a loss of assistance, possibly more of a sticking or notchiness. Pinion valve?

[smiffy1071]

FDV on its way out? I had the symptoms you describe on one of my cars, and as soon as I swapped it for a known good one, problem solved!

[Mike E (uk)]

If you get heavy steering when the car is cold, but cures when it warms up, that will be a worn pump in my experience.

Mike