Powersteering Pump Giving Everyone The Shits

[Wacky Dee]

took my r34 to a trusted mechanic to take a look at the powesteering as its been making squealing noises when the engine is cold.

They noticed the fluid was contaminated or something (top half was one color and bottom another) so they flushed the system and refilled with new fluid .. still cavitating and squealing.

They then took it to a power steering specialist who apparently 'rebuilt' the pump for $220 so according to him it should be as new. Nope. Still the same.

They took it back to the same place again .. thei 'rebuilt' it again apparently and new inlet/outlet hoses were also installed. They found some internal fractures which were sealed and pump installed again with new hoses.

So I get a call ..car's ready and the pump's not squealing anymore. I get there, just about to leave, car starts and it starts squealing immediately.

The car was meant to be at the mechanics for a day or 2 for a regular service plus to try and fix the pump .. it's now been there for 8 days and it's going to cost me a small fortune and it's STILL not fixed. They're taking the whole car to the power steering 'specialist' place and will leave it with them to fix it .. because they're at their wits end.

Has anyone experienced similar issues with the powersteering pump? I'm afraid I will probably get a call tommorow "car's done" again because the 'specialist' won't realize the squealing only happens when the engine is cold. So before I start ripping out the little hair I've got left, anyone got any tips ?

From what I've been told a new pump would cost $800 and would take 2-3 weeks to get here from Japan. That's on top of probably several hundred dollars I'm gonna have to pay already for all the hours the shop's spent on trying to fix it ... bloody ridiculous. What's my best option?

The steering works fine and the squealing stops after engine warms up ... so it's not a CRITICAL issue but as I'm gonna pay through my nose for all the time it's been at the shop already, I want to make sure it's sorted out.

Edited July 29, 2008 by Delta Force

[trel]

I know this might sound stupid but did you check the drive belts on the car? If theyre worn they screech too when cold and if bad enough dont stop even after car is warm...

[Wacky Dee]

all the belts were changed .. its the pump that's squealing due to cavitation (fromation of small air bubbles in the liquid)

[trel]

Ok, so why is air building up in the pump. If the pump was rebuilt obviously something else is the cause. Start from your basics. Check your steering rack boots, are they split? If they are there is there a possibility shit has gone in there and stuffed something?

[Wacky Dee]

presumably due to a leak somewhere .. and well "I" can't do crap (wouldn't know how) which is why I took it to a popular mec. shop .. who then gave the pump to a 'specialist' who rebuilt it.

[trel]

hmm... this person doesn't seem like too much of a specialist lol. I couldn't tell you 100% man im not mechanic. Just hope they check all power steering hoses. Even something as simple as the power steering reservoir with a small hole in it maybe could cause air leaks.

Good luck, let us know how you go if it gets sorted. Im interested to know what it was in the end.

[GeeTR]

I would think air would be entering the setup from the vacuum side of the pump, so between the pump and reservoir. I would think it would need to be a pretty large leak though for there to be enough vacuum to pull air through a leak.

Maybe check the reservoir, make sure there's something stuck in the outlet, causing abnormally high vacuum which is then pulling air through a leak. The reservoir outlet --> pump intake wasn't designed for high pressure / strong vacuum, so a blockage could be an answer.

Just a thought.

[RANDY]

all the belts were changed .. its the pump that's squealing due to cavitation (fromation of small air bubbles in the liquid)

I'd still want to check the belts... especially if they're new. Once they're all nicely worn in and stretched they should slip a bit and squeal... which usually means you need to adjust the pump.

Well, unless the sound is DEFINITELY coming from somewhere else, it's a nice quick and easy thing to do!

[Wacky Dee]

the sound from what I understood is coming from the pump itself as it's cavitating .. but they're unable to find the cause for the cavitation, having rebuilt the pump (twice) and put in new inlet/outlet hoses.

10 days i've been without my baby .. I've agreed to leave it with them until monday, if they can't fix it, I'm taking it back anyway. Getting a bit depressed driving my parents' auto corolla

Edited August 1, 2008 by Delta Force

[RANDY]

I used to get a low-pitched groaning noise when my reservoir was low. I had a leaky pipe on the drivers side (For the steering rack, near the oil filter... the rubber pipe that joins to the metal pipes.) Once I replaced that and topped up the fluids, the noise went away for good.

I assumed that it was just low levels, and my mechanic at the time suggested that there could be an air-pocket in the line because of this. I guess yours has bled the system properly and all that, and there is no leak... so i'm at a loss too! =-o

[Wacky Dee]

looks like it turned out to be some sort of "high pressure hose" .. whatever that is. Doesn't seem to be squealing anymore .. but I'll know for sure in a couple of days when i've had a chance to start it when engine is complete cold.

[n0ir]

My R33 also started doing it, and it is the worst.

Hope yours is fixed for good.

Just wondering what could have been the minimum cost to fix this?

Was the rebuild necessary? (Could you get the money back?)

I'd suggest you go ask another mechanic about the connection between the high pressure hose to rebuilding the complete set. Just so you don't get ripped off by these 'specialists'

[Wacky Dee]

its too late .. i'm not gonna ask for any money back because unigroup spent a shitload of time trying to diagnose the issue. It ended up costing me approx $600 to get the pump fixed (labour plus parts) when it probably MAY have cost < $100 if only they checked this high pressure hose first.

What can you do?? I know unigroup spent a lot of time diagnosing the issue (even though unsuccessfully) and they were billed for inlet/outlet hoses and pump rebuild by the 'specialist' so they have to pass on those costs even though probably neither were necessary and it was just this 'high pressure hose' to start with.

So my advice to you ... before they start 'rebuilding pump' or anything major, get them to flush your fluids and replace the hoses incl high pressure hose as those are cheap and easy to do. If it still squeal then you may need a pump rebuild...

Edited August 5, 2008 by Delta Force

[RANDY]

Was it the pipe that I mentioned? I think it was the high-pressure side and not the return which was my problem also.

[Wacky Dee]

all I've been told the latest fix was the "high pressure hose" so I assume it's the same thing as yours ... so for anyone reading this in the future - check this hose/pipe first

[lunjiaow]

all I've been told the latest fix was the "high pressure hose" so I assume it's the same thing as yours ... so for anyone reading this in the future - check this hose/pipe first

That's good if they've fixed it, but if its a high pressure hose wouldn't that have popped off by now resulting with lose of fluid and a noisey pump at idle?. I recently replaced my one as it was slowly leaking power steering fluid all over my steering box/rack and driveway. Lost lots of p/s fluid, which when started up it made that loud grinding noise. But i just topped it up with the cap still off, i turned the steering wheel left to right full lock to bleed out the air.

[SLeeKs]

took my r34 to a trusted mechanic to take a look at the powesteering as its been making squealing noises when the engine is cold.

They noticed the fluid was contaminated or something (top half was one color and bottom another) so they flushed the system and refilled with new fluid .. still cavitating and squealing.

They then took it to a power steering specialist who apparently 'rebuilt' the pump for $220 so according to him it should be as new. Nope. Still the same.

They took it back to the same place again .. thei 'rebuilt' it again apparently and new inlet/outlet hoses were also installed. They found some internal fractures which were sealed and pump installed again with new hoses.

So I get a call ..car's ready and the pump's not squealing anymore. I get there, just about to leave, car starts and it starts squealing immediately.

The car was meant to be at the mechanics for a day or 2 for a regular service plus to try and fix the pump .. it's now been there for 8 days and it's going to cost me a small fortune and it's STILL not fixed. They're taking the whole car to the power steering 'specialist' place and will leave it with them to fix it .. because they're at their wits end.

Has anyone experienced similar issues with the powersteering pump? I'm afraid I will probably get a call tommorow "car's done" again because the 'specialist' won't realize the squealing only happens when the engine is cold. So before I start ripping out the little hair I've got left, anyone got any tips ?

From what I've been told a new pump would cost $800 and would take 2-3 weeks to get here from Japan. That's on top of probably several hundred dollars I'm gonna have to pay already for all the hours the shop's spent on trying to fix it ... bloody ridiculous. What's my best option?

The steering works fine and the squealing stops after engine warms up ... so it's not a CRITICAL issue but as I'm gonna pay through my nose for all the time it's been at the shop already, I want to make sure it's sorted out.

just check the 2 hoses that run off the p?s resivor

[Wacky Dee]

FFS...

7 months later and I got this problem AGAIN. When engine is cold, grindyloud noises from engine bay and whining from steering wheel which doesn't turn as freely as usual.

Once the engine warms (approx. 10 mins driving) it's all NORMAL and all the grinding goes away. This is f**ked. I am waiting to hear from the powersteering specialist and if they think of charging me 1 cent to get this fixed again I'm gonna go balistic.

Anyone near newtown/glebe in Sydney with a bit of hands on experience and maybe a hoist ? I'd like to take a look at this 'high pressure' hose myself before I take the car back to them. God what a pain in the ass, have to borrow my parents car again and pray the 'specialist' doesn't come up with some other BS excuse for charging me hundreds of dollars (that I dont have right now)

[MrStabby]

Anyone near newtown/glebe in Sydney with a bit of hands on experience and maybe a hoist ? I'd like to take a look at this 'high pressure' hose myself before I take the car back to them. God what a pain in the ass, have to borrow my parents car again and pray the 'specialist' doesn't come up with some other BS excuse for charging me hundreds of dollars (that I dont have right now)

I'm in Newtown, i'm not an expert but would take a look if you like. PM me.

Hahn Automotive are supposed to be ok (Botany Rd Alexandria). I got them to make up a replacement air con hose as the pirtek dude said he couldnt do it (i was replacing the leaking powersteer hose and thought i'd do the air con hose at the same time as it was blistered).

Do you know about the powersteering bleeding proceedure where you rotate the wheel back and forth? Cant remember the exact details but i could dig it up (or maybe a search here will find it).

BTW make sure its not something silly like the hose rubbing on a pulley. BTDT.

[Wacky Dee]

yeah I've read before how to bleed it but I'm not sure I want to do that as I don't think that was the issue the last time ... the issue after bleeding AND fully reconditioning steering pump (TWICE!) turned out to be that high pressure hose. I wasn't told any details, but after like almost 2 weeks of them trying all the EXPENSIVE crap, it turned out to be just that hose...

You busy now ? Give me a ring (0413337146) if you can I can drop by