Power Steering

[tom6122]

Hey guys, having a problem with my power steering. Before anyone says search the forums, I've already done that and i've trawled through pages and pages of posts and read the 'Frequently asked Q&A's in the Problems and Querys Post, but didnt really solve my problem in full. Basically the power steering, blowers and rear de-mister aren't working.

If i turn the engine on the battery light keeps flashing on and off, as this is happening the power steering works..doesnt work...works etc, same think happens when you turn the blowers on, one minute there on the next there off. I went down to citroen to ask a mechanics opinion but there were none there this morning and to buy the grey relay (£12) that sits on top of the power steering pump, to see if that made any difference as i read that I should try this...it didnt.

I reached down and felt that power steering pump to see if I could feel any thing and it was pulsing, in time with the power steering and blowers going on and off. There is also a smell, of what I can only describe as hot power steering fluid coming from the engine bay,(I can't see any leaks...it just occurs after the engines been runnin for a few seconds) and whilst driving the car home after the initial problem occured this could be smelt inside that car.

At £248 + vat for a new power steering pump from citroen, i'm going to have a go at this wiring under the steering wheel job first, that I've read about tomorrow before I have to admit defeat and take it to citroen. After having read the symptoms does anyone think this solution may work or does it sound like i'm in need of a new pump? I'd go out and check it now but its pitch black so it'll have to wait until tomorrow.

[ets2k9]

Paragraphs mate :)

[tom6122]

Sorry...got a bit carried away

[argylefan1985]

ok top of the problems and queries thread there is a sticky, try that fix, thats your problem the ignition barrel just join the two brown cables like it tells you, thats what i could make from it anyway i tried reading what you said.

But no paragraphs lol, made it difficult, so reading what i could without getting lost thats what i made out from it. so give that a go mate.

[tom6122]

Yeah read it, going to give it a go tomos

[davevts]

alternator? i know when mine started to play up i was getting all kinds of problems with electrics etc, including blower and power steering on/off/on/off.

[tom6122]

Changed it about a month ago mate, turns out the alternator was overcharging the battery, hence making things like headlights, revs pulse.A new alternator and new battery sorted that out but i'm not saying it couldn be a faulty one.Cheers

[argylefan1985]

Cool, i recon mate that the fix should sort things out, happened to me, did the fix the day after bingo job done. Tis well easy to do and doesnt cost anything either hehe..

Keep us posted.

[SAM33R]

alrite geezer....

ive had the same problem....

you'll also notice at night that the lights in the cluster flicker (do dim and bright)

the smell is the motor burning, its basically packed up...

i paid £40 for a refurb motor from the breakers yard and £20 labour, although it is NOT a difficult DIY job, wish i done mine myself....

dont bother with a new relay because it will prob end up blowing it....

best bet is to remove the grey relay to save the rest of your electrics as the dodgy motor induces back emf which will fry everything lol

give us a shout if you need any pics or help

sam

[tom6122]

Right tried the wire trick and it didn't change anything, with the wire in and applying some revs the fans worked and the power steering worked intermittently. However the battery light went out when the revs were up but came back on when idling normally. Checked the output from the battery and alternator which was reading 12-13, which seemed okay. Getting pissed off with it now, what do you suggest now is it worth changing the power steering pump?Think i mite take it to a garage for a second opinion and see what they say.

[SAM33R]

mate its you pump, because the motor take a heavy load considering the relay is rated 45amps

it induces a a current backwards if the motor seizes which causes everything to pulse etc and the smell is the motor cooking away

get it replaced.....

sam

[tom6122]

Okay is it an easy job to do myself, im not shy of picking up a spanner, and do I get a new one, second hand from scrapper, refurbed?

[scook]

think its your alternator , exactly same happend to me when mine was knackered

[SAM33R]

up to you mate, depends on your budget....

new one is reliable and must come with a guarantee.... although the one i got 2nd hand from salvage was returnable if it was faulty....


new ones are £200+

i paid £40 for a 2nds

its honestly not a hard job to do yourself

theres 2 pipes, one is metal and has a nut around it.... the other has a metal clip which has to be cut off....which then can be replaced simply with a jubliee clip

few ten bolts hold the motor in the housing, and the wiring is easy, just a clip

i will get you pics if poss

sam

[tom6122]

Just been having another look at the problem. I disconnected the power leads going to the pump and rigged up a couple of wires fed from the battery straight to the pump.

The power steering worked fine, you could here the pump running, there were no unsual noises and it it wasnt getting hot. I'm now thinking its not the pump and could be this ignition barrel problem?

[tom6122]

Oh yeah forgot to mention, I put a multimeter across the plug with the brown wires under the steering wheel to see if there was a voltage, i did this when the car ignition was on one click and when the engine was running. There was no voltage there, should there be?, can anyone check theres if they dont mind?Cheers