Power steering questions

788 Views 10 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Dr Dave, Mar 28, 2005

mikew7790

Discussion Starter · Mar 27, 2005

Hi there,

My sisters 'new' 1993 414sli decided to throw a wobbly and dump all its power steering fluid!! :sad3: thing is, it came out of the pump joint :yikes: - where the two halves are joined together, you can see where the gasket has blown.

First question - is there a pressure release valve on these, and is that likely to be the problem? Cars only done 60k btw.

Second question is related to my car ('97 414) and the colour of its power steering fluid - I noticed that the fluid that was dumped from sisters car was red; the colour of the fluid in mine is black as anything... should I change it, and why would it have gone black? This car on 70k btw.

Hope that makes sense! I did a search and didn't find anything related...

Many thanks

Mike

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empsburna

· #2 · Mar 27, 2005

the stuff in my power steering is green, but I had it replaced with red when I had the hoses snipped and reclipped. - think if its dextron II you should be ok (same as used in auto boxes?)

Sounds like new pump time, and IIRC they dont come cheap at around £300/

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mikew7790

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 27, 2005

Hi there

Thanks - I know what colour the ps fluid is supposed to be, and pumps are about 70 squid from Best of British.

What I wanted to know though was, where is the pressure release valve if there is one? And could this be the cause of the pump blowing its gasket?

Also with regards my second question about the black ps fluid in my car, my dad reckons the rack is stuffed; the black is due to seals breaking down?? I've noticed occasionally whilst manouvering at low speed the steering can lock sometimes (like its on full lock but it isn't) - guess this is terminal and dangerous? I'd thought it was the belt slipping, but im wrong it seems? What do you reckon?

cheers
Mike

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mikew7790

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 28, 2005

bttt

Can anyone offer me any advice please?

Bit worried in case its dangerous.

cheers
Mike

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Dr Dave

· #5 · Mar 28, 2005

You've just been unlucky. There is a bypass/pressure relief valve inside the pump.

Your fluid, being black - (is it really back? Get some out and take a pic of it on some white paper...) sounds rather ominous to me......

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mikew7790

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 28, 2005

Major Ingram said:
You've just been unlucky. There is a bypass/pressure relief valve inside the pump.

Your fluid, being black - (is it really back? Get some out and take a pic of it on some white paper...) sounds rather ominous to me......

Ah cheers - just wondered where the relief valve was/is - I know we've just been unlucky i've not heard of that before and i've read most of the posts in this forum!

As for the colour - heres a pic, showing some clean red fluid and a white towel for comparison - its not as black as I thought but its not clean either!

What do you reckon about the seizing as well? I'm more concerned about that, i'd thought it was just a belt (silently) slipping before, but now i'm not so sure.

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Dr Dave

· #7 · Mar 28, 2005

The colour of the fluid indicates to me that your car has Honda PSF-V fluid in it, which is brown in colour. Nowt to worry about, infact that's a good thing.

How tight is the drivebelt?

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