Power steering issues (hydraulic)

[Sesqui89]

Hi All,

Any help on the following would be greatly appreciated!

The power steering on my car has always been very heavy which I thought was normal. However I did a track day recently and after being out for any more than a lap or two, the power steering pump started making a very loud whining noise and the power steering itself would become intermittent and then go completely. I wasn't losing fluid but it was being blown out of the top of the reservoir and was also black in colour.

I assumed it was the pump causing the issue and so I've had that replaced, however my mechanic has gone to change the fluid itself and he says there was so much back pressure that when he tried to remove the reservoir it blew off and sprayed fluid everywhere.

Any ideas what would cause this? He's mentioned the pressure switch as the next place to investigate but as far as I understood that only prevents the engine revs from dipping too low when operating the steering?

Any ideas would be great.

Cheers,

Jamie.

 

[bloke]

surely he should be the one telling you?

 

[GrahamS]

Sounds like the fluid boiled on the track day. From what I understand the rack has some kind of valve it which may be playing up. The pressure switch would usually register a fault if broken.

 

[Sesqui89]

Sounds like the fluid boiled on the track day. From what I understand the rack has some kind of valve it which may be playing up. The pressure switch would usually register a fault if broken.

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure the fluid has ever been changed but I did another track day late last year where I pushed the car quite hard and there were no issues at all. It seems strange that the fluid would boil in the same scenario a few months later when it wasn't pushed as hard - unless there is an underlying issue I guess. Would the fluid boiling cause the horrendous whining noise from the pump itself? He did say there was a lot of play in the bearings so I guess it may be a combination of both issues.

 

[GrahamS]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure the fluid has ever been changed but I did another track day late last year where I pushed the car quite hard and there were no issues at all. It seems strange that the fluid would boil in the same scenario a few months later when it wasn't pushed as hard - unless there is an underlying issue I guess. Would the fluid boiling cause the horrendous whining noise from the pump itself? He did say there was a lot of play in the bearings so I guess it may be a combination of both issues.

Quite possibly, the fluid is certainly more prone to boil over if it's not changed at the interval (whatever that is!). It is strange though that it would happen when not pushing as hard. Pumps on these aren't the best and do whine/bust. I've heard of it a few times before. Hopefully the pump hasn't disintegrated and a metal chunk gone into the rack.

 

[Ads29]

I had a golf do this and it turned out to be the pump, I assume he's put a new pump on?

 

[Sesqui89]

I had a golf do this and it turned out to be the pump, I assume he's put a new pump on?

Cheers for the reply. Yes new pump is on. I guess it's worth mentioning it's not technically a genuine Renault part. The one he ordered from Renault didn't have the section that the pulley for the aux belt bolts on to (no idea what it's called) and he wasn't able to remove that section from my old pump (I'm not even sure if that's what you need to do - seems slightly dodgy needing to reuse parts from a failed pump).

Anyway, as I needed the car back, he used an aftermarket pump, although it was made by Delphi (same manufacturer as the one he got from Renault) and looked near enough identical so was happy enough for him to use it. Hopefully that isn't causing the issue...

 

[Akay]

I had a similar issue and it turned out to be the pump, and pipe damaged near the pressure switch causing it to lose fluid.

Ive ripped it all out and going for an EPAS conversion so I dont have to worry about those bloody pipes again!

 

[bloke]

New pump comes with just bare shaft and you use old pulley mount.

 

[ilovewilly]

@Dan@SJM is close to you. A trader on here. A very good Renault specialist.

 

[Sesqui89]

X

@Dan@SJM is close to you. A trader on here. A very good Renault specialist.

Cheers, i've used Dan before for a timing adjustment and his service was spot on. Will strongly consider him for anything else going forward that might be a bit specialist.

Luckily I've not had any leaks, just the failing pump and this pressure issue. Resolved now, turned out to be air in the system. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Dan@SJM]

I've had no end of issues with non gen pumps. When Renault were on back order I used GSF items. Every single one has been replaced under warranty.

 

[Sesqui89]

Yeah I'm not happy with the car already. Just from driving it today, I'm sure this new pump is whining even more than the one it replaced! :weary:
@Dan@SJM would you please be able to pm me a quote for the job to be done by you with a genuine part? Where does a customer stand in terms of the warranty? If a non genuine pump fails and the customer has no confidence in replacing it with another non genuine item - is that their only option or can they claim the money back?

 

[Dan@SJM]

You can request a refund for the faulty part but that's it, other than getting the garage to put yet another replacement fitted. I'll price it up tomorrow.