Power Steering Gone - Stuck!!

[richardi]

Hi everybody & hope someone can help!!

My disco 300tdi (had it 4 weeks) started losing PAS today. It was intermittent and the drive belt was frayed (unrelated???). I chopped the bits off the belt that were lose and carried on driving. After a while I lost PAS altogether and when I looked under the lid fluid had squirted from the breather hole in the top of the reservoir but it was still full up. There are no other leaks on the steering system.

Now i'm stuck 130 miles from home with no PAS!!

:(

Does anyone know if its OK to drive it with no PAS?

Also - been quoted £420 to fit a new box :eek:

Dont know if it is box though - possibly pump??

Any info at all greatly received!!!

Thanks guys!!

Rich

[TEMPL4R]

Check the pipe from the reservoir to the pump, it might be split. if it's throwing oil out the breather, it's got air in it.

Top it up and drive back. The frayed belt won't help, change it.

Chris

[richardi]

Thanks for that Chris,

Have checked & seems to be no obvious leak where you stated. Filled the ressy up again as it had dropped overnight although with no obvious leak - drove 10 miles - same problem from the breather.

Am I likely to do any long term damage if I drive it back to London with no PAS?

Sorry for the newbie questions!! Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Rich

[neil c]

should be ok to drive without pas as long as the pump is dissconected, as it may seize if it runs dry.

[richardi]

Thanks neil

Stupid question but how do i disconnect pump??

[TEMPL4R]

You can't on a 300. Just top the fluid up and when it starts to make a squealing noise, top it up again. (it will be drawing air.)

Is there a leak on the seal over the arm on the bottom of the steering box? That is the usual place.

Chris

[richardi]

Thanks for the info people.

Strange thing is there is no obvious leak anywhere on the PAS. The box is dry & so is the pump. Just keeps spitting it out the breather!

Running out of time now - may have to chance getting it back to London on Sunday!! Anything else anyone can think of woud be appreciated.

Thanks for your time guys.

Rich.

[richardi]

Well thought I better get her home so I left early today and luckily am home now so am about to investigate problem in depth. One thing that occurred to me while I was listening for any odd noise while doing 50mph on the M11: when my drive belt frayed (just before I lost PAS) maybe it did puncture something or cause damage so that air did ingrees to the system?? - hmmm.

Anybody got any thoughts??


Cheers!

Richard.

[TEMPL4R]

Did the belt wrap around the pulley on the Pump?

If it did, check for bits behind it and on the shaft, it could get into the seal and draw air in.

Watch the oil as it returns to the reservoir. if it's bubbly or pink, it's air.

Chris

[Alf Tupper]

Well thought I better get her home so I left early today and luckily am home now so am about to investigate problem in depth. One thing that occurred to me while I was listening for any odd noise while doing 50mph on the M11: when my drive belt frayed (just before I lost PAS) maybe it did puncture something or cause damage so that air did ingrees to the system?? - hmmm.

Anybody got any thoughts??


Cheers!

Richard.

i've a 200 and mine went recently and very suddenly.

was with a group the first thing i spotted was the belts were not "in line" the pump shaft seemed to be about 10mm out. loads of "sweaking" noises round the pump

Upon taking the whole lot off the pump shaft had come off the back bearing (if there is one) it was stucking out about 25mm, the belts themselves holding the shaft back.

The belts themselves worn on the sides needed replacement

[richardi]

Well checked everything I can - absolutely no leaks! All pipes seem OK & have checked all unions. If air is getting in I don't know where!

Funny that about the belt - it didnt go completely but certainly frayed a lot the pump side of it (ie not the rad fan side). Doesn't seem to be anything lodged behind the pulley but cant be sure.

Did make a helluva noise though. Since I snipped the loose bits off - no more belt probs (ordered a new one though!) just no PAS!!

Cheers Chris

The mystery continues.

[richardi]

Interesting one Alf - seems my belt certainly came in contact with something that side of it. Hmmm - methinks I best change the pump......possibly!

Thanks for your input people.

[TEMPL4R]

When the engine is running, does the pulley turn Ok? Does fluid flow in the reservoir?

Is the steering very heavy? Has the fluid stopped spraying out of the cap but the res is still full?

If the pump has sheared the shaft or failed, it will not pump, when you turn the steering, the fluid will return from the box and excess will blow out of the breather hole in the cap.

Take the belt off and see if there is play in the pump. You should be able to turn the pulley and after a few seconds, it should lock as the pressure is built up. If it doesn't stop turning, then the pump has failed.

Chris

[richardi]

Steering very heavy - no assistance at all.

Reservoir full - no fluid ejecting from breather while the vehicle was idling for about 10 minutes. This was obviously without the steering being turned. Also it lost nothing on the 130 odd miles home.

Pully turning OK.

Not a lot of movement in the ressie!

Will check with the belt off tomorrow & hopefully get a definitive answer!

Thanks Chris.

[richardi]

OK & yippee!!!! I think...

After reading above post i took the belt (or at least what remains of it) off and gave the PAS pump a good spin - no resistance at all and I felt no pressure build up. Obviously it wasn't getting up to the kind of velocity the engine does but I guess (or hope) this means the pump is U/S??

If so - anybody put me wise as to where to get one and is it wise to get new or recon??


Thanks everybody & especcially Chris!

Regards,

Richard

[TEMPL4R]

Try giving the pump a clout, there is a pressure release valve in it, it might be stuck.

If the belt has shredded for no obvious reason, it could be because the shaft was seizing and then sheared.

We have had quite a few pumps fail on Citroen Picassos and Peugeots, no signs other than just stopped pumping.

Chris

[richardi]

Nope - nothing!!! gave it a bit of a thump or two with the persuader but still spins freely!

Guess that answers it!

Now - new or recon?? Or is there only new??