Very light steering on VT Calais.

[cavedweller]

Hi, A friend of mine has a VT 6cyl Calais. The power steering has just gotten very light. Even at speed, it is light. It has 16 inch alloy Calais wheels and nothing had been altered before this has started. It is scary to drive as there seems to be no road feel. The rack is a TRW unit and doesn't look like it is a variatronic rack. Any clues??? Could it be a fault in the power steer pump or more likely the rack??? Thanks.

[accentstencil]

Unfortunately I don't know the answer to your problem but I'm pretty sure it will have a variatronic rack being a Calais. There will be an electrical connector on the rack if it is. Try pulling the fuse and see if it makes any difference, if so then it's probably a rack problem. The fuse also covers the cruise control and power mirrors.

[lufkin]

i had this happen in my Calais, its most likely the solenoid on the rack, most racks leak oil into the connectors and it can mess with it, if it is the solenoid that's the issue, you can buy the solenoid separate and its a quick and cheap job to do