406oc.co.uk

Hi all...

Newbie here, just picked up my 2000 2.0HDI 90HP 406 and love it. Only thing is though at idle or trying to park the steering is very very heavy as though it has no P.A.S, as soon as you blip the throttle you can feel it come light and the P.A.S working as it should.

Its done 166k ex-taxi but been well maintained and new cambelt in Feb'08, is this a sign the P.A.S pump is on its way out or does a belt need to be adjusted or fluid level checked?

Any help would be hugely appreciated.

Cheers....

Shaun

You mean you didn't already check the level?

I didnt no did everything else.... its just had service and MOT so assumed it was ok.... could it just be the level of fluid then?

If not and it needs new pump is it easier to replace?

Serviced? You expect them to check your levels too??

Check the oil level and report back. Check your belt too, while you're there. I'd think you'd hear it slipping but on an HDi it's pretty crucial. They're auto adjusting so there's not much you can do, apart from reset it all, in which case you may as well fit a new one.

If that's all ok it might help to wait on here for someone with a better idea of the ps pump, there are some versions with variable power steering so maybe some more infomation on what goes wrong with that would be useful.

Changing the pump doesn't actually look too difficult (Haynes gives it 3 spanners).

Hi
Assuming you've checked the level and can't hear any screeching from the belt - get someone to turn the wheel whilst you listen at the pump. If the engine just lowers a tad you know its pumping but if it's heavy then a couple of things you need to listen at - does it sound as if some pressure is there - should hiss a bit.
Here what you need to do. The pump has a relief valve that opens when pressure gets too high if it's sticking open you won't get enough pressure to push the rack.
Another detail - the rack has two springs on either side of the actuator valve in the rack - one is a light one that enables the driver to maintain feel when your going at speed the heavier one compresses when you're almost at a standstill and opens the valve wider to allow more pressure to the actuator when feel don't matter. I have never known one to go on the blink but if someone has been messing with it they could have assembled the valve wrong so be careful until you know.
I once was called to sort out a cadillac that someone had tried to replace some seals and they lost the plot with the valve arrangement, when the steering wheel was turned to the left the power went on out of control and could not be corrected - you can guess what would have happened had it gone on the road. The pump relief valve is easy to check - it will be the spring that's broken and just letting the pressure go it's a heavy spring as you can imagine but not rocket science to fix.
Just a point on the side - this is what happens when poorly trained drivers screw the wheel over just cos they can instead of just moving the car when they turn it - you know like you were taught on your driving lessons. It not only buggers the rack and pump, it plays avoc with all the steering joints.