VS V6 powersteer problem

[pungent]

Pulled up in the ute the other night and there was no issue at all.

Went out the next morning and started it and there was a weird noise just after start up then the powersteer pump started whining. Turn the steering and it shuddered through the whole car and pumped whined its head of.

I thought ok simple, I will replace the pump.

Now 3 pumps later and another steering rack I still have the exact same problem.

I have checked flow and there seems plenty. The lines seem to be in good condition and as soon as you undo them all the fluid runs out.

There is nothing left to replace and the struts, ball joints, tie rod ends and steering column etc is good and not causing any extra load.

I have had the front of the ute jacked up as high as I can so any air can bleed out.

I am at the point where I have ran out of options and there is nothing else left to replace.

HELP!!!!

[hako]

When this problem first appeared did you check fluid level etc?
Are you sure the hoses have not failed internally which can make them block flow when hot or under pressure?
Did you bleed the system "by the book?".....on jacks and full lock a few times?
The above questions may seem a bit trivial but when something happens in the manner you suggest, it is usually the obvious that has been ovelooked....and don't ask me how I know!!

[pungent]

Fluid was a little low but ok.

Have done the bleed system by the book a number of times to full lock, over and over actually lol.

I have checked flow which seemed good but as you said maybe under pressure one of the hoses maybe failing.

My only step to do now is pull of the current hoses and check and probably replace them.

Thanks for the advice.

[hako]

It's virtually impossible to look inside the high pressure hoses so it's best to just grab some from a wrecker. Are you sure there are no kinks etc in the hose. Also double check the return line to the reservoir has not gone really soft and bendy - mine did and felt as though it was made of jelly and it wouldn't take much to kink it.

[pungent]

Replaced the line from the pump to the rack this afternoon and now the pump is completely quiet BUT now I have no power steering at all.

That makes no sense to me.

I will replace the return line tomorrow afternoon and see what happens.

[Bourbonated]

Sorry to but in, but help is help, right? . Are you sure the pump in it was dead in the first place? Sometimes the rubber grommet that the steering column passes through dries out, causing the same sort of horrible sound.. Just spray it with WD-40 and it shuts it up.

As for the pump now.. If it is making no noise but you have no power steering, I am guessing it's dead, too. I hope you are getting warranty with these things, because the amount you have used is getting ridiculous.

[pungent]

Any help is help mate

sound was definately coming from pump.

First pump I just assumed was dead due to one minute it was fine, next minute it was screaming its head of. Although all 3 pumps together seem in same condition. Even took the one I payed for back to the wreckers and swapped it for another one lol so that makes 4 now.

Only payed for one second hand pump so far and a bit of hydroulic hose, it's my time thats getting to me lol.

I can't get my head around just replacing the one hose has stopped the power steer all together.

I rebuild my own diffs and do ratio swaps, cam changes, head changes, spray my own cars, engine transplants, tune my own modded 5L of the lap top and this should be simple thing on the daily V6 is getting beyond a joke!!

[hako]

Any help is help mate

sound was definately coming from pump.

First pump I just assumed was dead due to one minute it was fine, next minute it was screaming its head of. Although all 3 pumps together seem in same condition. Even took the one I payed for back to the wreckers and swapped it for another one lol so that makes 4 now.

Only payed for one second hand pump so far and a bit of hydroulic hose, it's my time thats getting to me lol.

I can't get my head around just replacing the one hose has stopped the power steer all together.

I rebuild my own diffs and do ratio swaps, cam changes, head changes, spray my own cars, engine transplants, tune my own modded 5L of the lap top and this should be simple thing on the daily V6 is getting beyond a joke!!

As it stands now, with engine running can you see if fluid is flowing to and from the reservoir?....

[180sc]

hope you find it soon my stato is now doing exactly the same thing grrrrrrrrrrrr. all we did was replace a leaking line.

[hako]

The stato has different pump and rack...varionic or something with electrical assist.

[180sc]

nope its standard doesn't have the speed sensitive rack.

[hako]

nope its standard doesn't have the speed sensitive rack.

You're lucky then, someone must have swapped it as they had the variotronic as standard according to the specs.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

I would say the pressure line had collapsed on the inside blocking it partially and not letting the fluid flow through the pump. Replacing that has restored flow to the pump, but there may be shit blocking the inlet to the rack or even gotten into the rack itself. Undo the lines to the rack and see if the holes are blocked or if any foreign matter is in there. Remove the return line and blow it out to make sure nothing is blocking that. Also make sure there is nothing blocking the inlet and outlet of the pump.

This might seem a silly question, but you did get the lines on the rack the right way around?

[pungent]

Going to replace the return line this afternoon. I only replaced one line so far so only removed one line so I couldnt get them wrong way round.

Will also recheck flow.

[pungent]

Replaced the return line this afternoon and still no difference although I now have no flow at all.

Is there any other way of bleeding the system other than jacking the front up as high as possible and turning full lock to full lock.

I ran the engine with the line of the pump then of the inlet to rack then of the return from rack and with each one disconnected seemed to spit out fluid although when everything is hooked up just does not want to pump through the system.

As you get to full lock a little bit of fluid will come out of the return line but no flow at all.

I even put my mouth (desperation) on the resorvoir and blew as hard as I could to try and blow something through the system lol and nothing.

Only thing I can think of now is to put one of the other pumps back on.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

It's either an air lock or a blockage. (Or the pump is totally shagged).

[pungent]

I think I may have found my problem. I have taken a couple of pics so everyone can see. Not sure if that ball is even suppose to be in there in the first place lol

I will have to get another resorvior tomorrow to confirm its now all good but when you see the pics I would say it was the problem. Fingers crossed.

[pungent]

Forgot to add a thankyou to everyone that offered there advise. Very much appreciated.

[hako]

That is unreal.....I'd check my 'friends' as that would have to be sabotage. Do you know the history of the car or who would have had a chance to slip that in....very cunning and something you'd never think to check. Is it a steel ball or a marble?

Edit....sounds similar to cutting brake lines....lose steering or brakes and....BANG.

[pungent]

I brought the ute last November so havn't owned it very long. History before that who knows. Came from down the NSW coast and was a Tradies ute.

It actually couldnt be put in there by someone. It was right in the bottom where it was sealed together when manufactured. Only way I could get it out was to cut bottom of with angle grinder.

My theory so far.......The ball is plastic and the long part that is usually under the cap is not there.

Someone has broken the end of the peice that is usually under the cap off down in the reservoir and tried to get it out but managed to push it down further going through the screen. ( Hole you can see in pic) They couldnt get it out so left it in there. With the heat from fluid and the flow of fluid around it over a long period of time has shaped it until whamo it managed to fit nicely into the outlet of the reservoir resulting in driving me crazy over the last week lol.

I'm open to any other theory's.

[hako]

Can't see how the heat from the oil etc would shape and form it...why wouldn't it do this when attached to the cap? However, maybe it's designed to be there?...one way valve to prevent backflow due to pump design??? Thinking about it you may not have found the problem....but maybe the missing bit from the cap has somehow slipped down the hose to block a hose/pump?
Proof will be in the pudding when you put it all together....but till it runs OK I wouldn't put any custard on my pudding yet.
Good Luck.

[pungent]

Put another reservoir on this afternoon and problem solved.

Air bled out of the system nicely and pump is quiet and steering is good.

[hako]

Beauty!! success at last and now for the pudding. Just out of curiosity, was the 'ball' in the reservoir perfectly round and did the new reservoir rattle when shaken?

[pungent]

New reservoir didnt rattle and the ball was no where near round. Was like melted plastic that had been rolled in your fingers to try and make round.

I can try and get a better pic of it if you want one?.

[hako]

New reservoir didnt rattle and the ball was no where near round. Was like melted plastic that had been rolled in your fingers to try and make round.

I can try and get a better pic of it if you want one?.

Yes please!