the dreaded heavy steering
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- BXpert
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the dreaded heavy steering
got into the bx19 petrol sunday and all the power had gone from the steering...
no change till today so ive just whipped off the fd but all seems fine...
the little filters ok and intact and no real gunge but have left the fd soaking overnight...
and will reassemble tommorrow...
had a look at the belt and it seemed tight, 1cm play, but i dont think this would lead to complete loss of power steering...
soooo...
if fd and belt is ok, does that mean that the pump is definitly knackered????
pump was exchanged with one from plaides, reconditioned, about 3 years/20000 miles ago...
wadya think
charlie
no change till today so ive just whipped off the fd but all seems fine...
the little filters ok and intact and no real gunge but have left the fd soaking overnight...
and will reassemble tommorrow...
had a look at the belt and it seemed tight, 1cm play, but i dont think this would lead to complete loss of power steering...
soooo...
if fd and belt is ok, does that mean that the pump is definitly knackered????
pump was exchanged with one from plaides, reconditioned, about 3 years/20000 miles ago...
wadya think
charlie
yes.....
the colour is....
guiness white..........
the colour is....
guiness white..........
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- Over 2k
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Yes
I think FDV failure affects the rest of the circuit more than the PAS.
Strange it should suddenly go rather than a gradual degredation under stress - and so would normally say belt - but you have checked that. Is the hose from the reservoir free from perishing and are the ends really good, properly clamped and sealing well?
I think FDV failure affects the rest of the circuit more than the PAS.
Strange it should suddenly go rather than a gradual degredation under stress - and so would normally say belt - but you have checked that. Is the hose from the reservoir free from perishing and are the ends really good, properly clamped and sealing well?
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Mine did this. But changed the pump for a known good one, and changed the FDV for a known good one. And still absolutely nothing.
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- The Immoderate half of the admin team
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The FDV would be the first thing I'd look at, really, really carefully.
If not and the pump is working then could be pinion/ram but it does seem odd it went all at once?
Maybe the security valve has given up?
I trust the rest of the hydraulics work as Andre intended?
Cheers
Chris G
If not and the pump is working then could be pinion/ram but it does seem odd it went all at once?
Maybe the security valve has given up?
I trust the rest of the hydraulics work as Andre intended?
Cheers
Chris G
Smokes lots, because enough's enough already!
Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
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Security valve? Whats this you speak of?
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The security valve is the device tucked around the back of the front subframe which operates the low pressure warning light. It allows all available pressure to be used for the brakes - and when it detects enough for the brakes it opens and allows high pressure LHM to flow to the suspension.
It cannot have anything to do with the correct function of the steering as its the other side of the pressure regulator - which will form a break in the circuit due to its valves etc.
It cannot have anything to do with the correct function of the steering as its the other side of the pressure regulator - which will form a break in the circuit due to its valves etc.
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- BXpert
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have refitted all but two lower joints on the fd...
decided would be best to remove acc sphere cause its in the fu@@in way!!!
but can i shift it can i fu@@!!!
so its back to basics ...
as i lie underneath should i be turning the sphere towards the sump or towards the radiator to get it undone???
i'm using a rubber belt strap thing that has always worked in the past, as the sphere should only have been fitted hand tight, but if i cant shift with this is it a chain wrench job and where can i get one from asap???
your thoughts again good people would be welcome as i am getting well pissed off....
charlie
decided would be best to remove acc sphere cause its in the fu@@in way!!!
but can i shift it can i fu@@!!!
so its back to basics ...
as i lie underneath should i be turning the sphere towards the sump or towards the radiator to get it undone???
i'm using a rubber belt strap thing that has always worked in the past, as the sphere should only have been fitted hand tight, but if i cant shift with this is it a chain wrench job and where can i get one from asap???
your thoughts again good people would be welcome as i am getting well pissed off....
charlie
yes.....
the colour is....
guiness white..........
the colour is....
guiness white..........
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The accumulator undoes - so if its pointing to the left hand side its bottom towards the back of the car.
You will need a plumbers double row chain chain wrench - the type sold for oil filters will break - promise
I use a home made tool - made from the hex bar centre of the last chain wrench with a strip of steel welded to opposite flats so that it wraps when turned by the hex bar and tightens.
You will need a plumbers double row chain chain wrench - the type sold for oil filters will break - promise
I use a home made tool - made from the hex bar centre of the last chain wrench with a strip of steel welded to opposite flats so that it wraps when turned by the hex bar and tightens.
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- BXpert
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got confused with this on myself,the easy way to remember is look at the acc. sphere from the drivers side of the car instead of from underneath, pull the belt wrench towards you, i bought a chain wrench of fleebay 2 weeks ago and although it is a bit fiddly to get around the acc. sphere it works a treat and was only £18
i changsd the acc. sphere on the auto on saturday and i would not budge so i put the chain wrench on and took a swing at it with the sledge bingo!
i changsd the acc. sphere on the auto on saturday and i would not budge so i put the chain wrench on and took a swing at it with the sledge bingo!
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There is an alternative for removing/replacing the FDV Charlie - radiator out. Whether that's any more convenient/inconvenient I'll leave up to you to you to decide.... The space you liberate to do the FDV job makes it as much of a doddle as such a thing can ever be.
Back on two wheels and pedal power for the moment.
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A good tip. Only takes 15mins to get the rad and fans out on a 16v.DLM wrote:There is an alternative for removing/replacing the FDV Charlie - radiator out. Whether that's any more convenient/inconvenient I'll leave up to you to you to decide.... The space you liberate to do the FDV job makes it as much of a doddle as such a thing can ever be.
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The most painless way to remove the accumulator sphere is with a cold chisel and club hammer. I did it this way at the recommendation of the citroen specialist and it moved with 2 taps.charlie wrote:
decided would be best to remove acc sphere cause its in the fu@@in way!!!
but can i shift it can i fu@@!!!
your thoughts again good people would be welcome as i am getting well pissed off....
charlie
Place the cold chisel at an angle against the circumference of the sphere at the seam in the direction of undoing, tap chisel with hammer and as soon as it moves you can undo by hand or with the weakest of chain/strap wrenches.
1991 BX19GTi Auto
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- BXpert
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thanks everyone for the quick replies
went the radiator out route as could do this straight away....
now fd and radiator back together
filled the radiator, got the bx to rise up and backed off the ramps and hey presto...
temp light came on with car rising and falling
so tommorrow will need to get the air out of both systems and find out whether power steering has come back!!!
wish me luck...
charlie
went the radiator out route as could do this straight away....
now fd and radiator back together
filled the radiator, got the bx to rise up and backed off the ramps and hey presto...
temp light came on with car rising and falling
so tommorrow will need to get the air out of both systems and find out whether power steering has come back!!!
wish me luck...
charlie
yes.....
the colour is....
guiness white..........
the colour is....
guiness white..........
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- Backslash Bandit
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Hi Charlie,
If you need a sphere removal tool, i have one you can borrow, I'm just up in Llantrisant. I had intermittent heavy power steering and also had a weep from the pinion, I doubt whether the two are connected but when I replaced the steering rack and the ram all was ok. However, i also had flushing oil in for 3000miles and there was a good amount of crud in the filters afterwards so it could of been dirt. It's an easy job to change the fluid to hydraflush and could save a bucket of time taking things off/investigating etc. (If you do use hydraflush, replace it after max 3000miles as it has reduced lubrication properties vs LHM). I also have a spare ram if you're interested.
Cheers & good luck
If you need a sphere removal tool, i have one you can borrow, I'm just up in Llantrisant. I had intermittent heavy power steering and also had a weep from the pinion, I doubt whether the two are connected but when I replaced the steering rack and the ram all was ok. However, i also had flushing oil in for 3000miles and there was a good amount of crud in the filters afterwards so it could of been dirt. It's an easy job to change the fluid to hydraflush and could save a bucket of time taking things off/investigating etc. (If you do use hydraflush, replace it after max 3000miles as it has reduced lubrication properties vs LHM). I also have a spare ram if you're interested.
Cheers & good luck
1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue
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- BXpert
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thanks for the offer of tool i would of snatched it off you yesterday but the radiator off route was suprisingly quick and in the end ok. is a dodgy ram a common fault ???
because first impressions of ressambled fd not good...
steering still heavy so have brought hydraflush and will tighten belt up some more later...
as a matter of interest how tight is tight as i remember last time i tried difficult to got leverage...
anyways enough for today as i'm off to spend some beer tokens
charlie
because first impressions of ressambled fd not good...
steering still heavy so have brought hydraflush and will tighten belt up some more later...
as a matter of interest how tight is tight as i remember last time i tried difficult to got leverage...
anyways enough for today as i'm off to spend some beer tokens
charlie
yes.....
the colour is....
guiness white..........
the colour is....
guiness white..........