[atemizel]

Hello,
I started to get a strange noise from my power steering. It doesn't matter the car is stationary/moving/clutch is pressed/gear in neutral/gear in first etc. when I apply some force to steering wheel (even if I don't start turning it) there is a noise coming from the driver side. It is hard to explain a sound but it is like an electric motor trying to turn but being over-loaded or someting...
I couldn't see anything wrong visibly except the steering wheel liquid being below "low".
Could it be the steering wheel liquid, I'll top it up as soon as possible or is it something more serious?
The car is 1996 Rover 416i...
Thanks in advance...

 

[shorti]

Top up the liquid - The noise may very well disappear!

 

[atemizel]

Re: Re: Power Steering Noise

shorti wrote:
Top up the liquid - The noise may very well disappear!

Thanks a lot for the reply. Yesterday, I went straight to a garage, bought the liquid as specified in the manual (Dexron III - the manual specifies Dexron IID but the guy in the garage told that III superseeded IID) and topped it up. The noise disappeared and steering seems a bit lighter now!

 

[Dr Dave]

But....you must look to see where the fluid has gone....poor quality hose clips are the usual suspects, replace them with Norma type band clamps.

When the fluid drops below a certain level in the resevoir, air is sucked into the PAS system. Cavitation noise results (air trapped within the fluid) and the pump sounds as though it is on its last legs - as you found out.

Top the system up (as you did) and bleed it (Run the engine at tickover for 15mins then turn the steering wheel lock to lock) and all should be well, with no damage