POWER STEERING BIT STIFF!!

[LEEANGE]

as i`ve said above,my power steering keeps going stiff on me.
not all the time,just now and again for a second or so.
didnt used to do it!!
hope it`s not my pump on the way out
can any one help....pwetty pwease???

[Veg_Ian]

Power steering fluid up to level? Sometimes a fluid change will sort it - no guarantees but a potential cheap and quick win.

[LEEANGE]

yeah topped it up,that was my first and only idea!
got my mate to have try but he`s says nothing to worry about.
what does he know-he`s not as privalaged as us bongo owners

[bigdaddycain]

Could the knuckle in the steering column need greasing? This can cause resistance, sometimes only intermittantly.

[LEEANGE]

i`ll give that a try.
nice one bigdaddycain

[bigdaddycain]

i`ll give that a try.
nice one bigdaddycain

Hope it does the trick, i've never had that issue with the bongo, but i did have a car in the past that gave similar symptoms. I took it to my local trusted garage, and all but one of the mechanics said it needed a new steering rack, the mechanic that disagreed pulled out a can of special spray, that resembled wd40 in consistency initially,creeps in to joints,then expands to a thin grease! Wd40 would be a temporary cure,till the lubricating properties were displaced, grease stays put though.

P.s. the spray did the trick, i had the car another 3 years without the problem re-occuring.

[bigdaddycain]

If memory serves me right, i think the power steering pump is direct drive, so no belts to replace, a fluid replacement, and follow up bleed should do the trick.

[dandywarhol]

Chuck in a tin of Wynns or Forte PS stop leak when you do it - usually makes the steering a bit sweeter

[LEEANGE]

is there a certain type of power steering fluid to get cause its only seemed to start playing
up since i`ve topped the fluid up

[LEEANGE]

yeah ATF filled to the full mark,greased the nuckle under the steering column too!!
really bugging me now
some one has got to have that little gem of knowledge to sort my problem out!!!

[dandywarhol]

I got a tip from the guy who flogs this stuff
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/AMETECH-ENGINE-RESTORE-OIL

I added a can to the engine when I serviced my Bongo last week and before I emptied the can into the engine I carefully poured out the contents into a measuring jug - BEFORE I shook the can to mix the contents.
The last 10th or so of the contents is a thick liquid with the additive and the advice was to add a TEASPOONFUL ONLY to the PS fluid.

Now - over the last few months - when the weather got a bit colder, I found my PS a little bit stiff if I was manoevering on the overrun (off throttle, autobox, revs return to idle).
When I added the fluid the steering alarmingly got worse - almost no power until I worked the steering lock to lock a good dozen times and now the problem has disappeared and the steering is sweeter than ever. In fact, if anything the steering doesn't feel quite as (overly)light as before and there's more "feel" to it.

I'm not saying this will sort yours LEENANGE but I reckon that a worn PS pump tends to "overpower" the steering - in other words it works harder to overcome the pressure losses through wear. When the pump is required to work hard (low speed/lots of lock) the pressure to the rack can be delayed and the steering can become jerky. I know the relief valve in mines is a wee bit noisy for the first few seconds on startup.

This additive claims to restore minute scores and scratches in cylinders/pumps/turbos - I'm cynical (NOOOO I hear you say ) but remain open minded.

[LEEANGE]

do i leave the cap off or on when i turn it lock to lock???

[dandywarhol]

on