Jump to content
SAU Community

Power Steering Problem Solving

Grungle

By Grungle,
in Four Door Family & Wagoneers

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grungle Enthusiast

Grungle

Posted
Posted

After taking my car to a track day last week, the power steering hasn't been the same, so I'm looking for some problem solvers/diagnosis experts to think this through with...

I know the power steering overheated on the track. I let it cool down, then drove it home. No loss of fluid, but it was really heavy at very slow speeds. Fine at higher (+10km/h) speeds.

The next morning I sucked the fluid out of the reservoir (which looked clean, and didn't smell burnt), and refilled it. Started the car (cold) and turned the steering from lock to lock 5 times. No dramas - steering was light, no loud noises and the fluid level remained the same.

Took it for a drive, and after 10 minutes when the car was warm I pulled into a car park. The steering was HEAVY turning in. no assistance at all. I stopped, reversed (so revs went up) and had another go and the steering went light again. I then went forward, put it in neutral and with the engine now warm (idling at ~500rpm) the steering was really heavy when stationary.

I reversed out, took off up the road and went through some roundabouts - all good. Steering was light and felt like it always did.

Made it back home and once again, when the revs dropped to idle it lost the power assistance completely.

So I don't know much about power steering pumps...but this seems like a pump problem to me. I'm confused because is it's not completely stuffed - it works as long as the revs are over 1000rpm. Can a power steering pump "partially" fail? Is there anything else that could cause this issue? Leaking valves?

And finally, what's the best place to get a replacement pump? Has anyone got an old one sitting around? The missus will refuse to drive it soon...

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/384489-power-steering-problem-solving/
Share on other sites
AAARGH 33 Community Regular

AAARGH 33

Posted
Posted

I had a similar problem but instead of the steering being heavy some of the time,mine was always heavy.

The fix was a genuine Nissan power steering pump overhaul/seal kit,I put in the new seals and she's all perfect.So maybe the seals are about to go in your pump,I'd go and by a pump seal kit if I were you.

bigkevracer Grand Master

bigkevracer

Posted
Posted

Ask Jetwreck. He cooked his power steering on the track, and warned me I'd need a cooler. He might be able to tell you what he did to fix it.

Seals might make sense though?

When I looked into the cooler, I found that everything else with a similar steering rack (350z, v35, pm35, etc) had a cooler, but we didn't.

Daleo Grand Master

Daleo

Posted
Posted

I have a small cooler to hook up to mine when I get a chance, any ideas which hose it needs to go into?

Hey Scotty,

It should go on the low pressure side of the system; so in the return line to the reservoir.thumbsup.gif

Grungle Enthusiast

Grungle

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I had a similar problem but instead of the steering being heavy some of the time,mine was always heavy.

The fix was a genuine Nissan power steering pump overhaul/seal kit,I put in the new seals and she's all perfect.So maybe the seals are about to go in your pump,I'd go and by a pump seal kit if I were you.

Yeah, that's what I don't get - if it was always heavy or leaking it would be easy. I guess early seal failure could show up like this.

i MAY have a 2nd hand pump in the garage from an M35

Can you PM me a price if you've got one? That sounds better than potentially waiting a couple of weeks for one from Japan. Nissan said they can probably get one, but they want the VIN before they order it.

funnily enough, after driving the car for just a short time you can feel the reservoir heat up quite quickly.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • f00stx
      Quieter performance exhausts (or muffler add-on options)

      By f00stx · Posted

      So, I've had my V36 for about a month now and have already copped an "excessive exhaust noise" notification from QLD TMR, reported by someone in my local area. It's a twin as per the original, and can have a bit of a throaty note to it when idling cold 😄 and if I do get up it a bit, it can be noisy, but it did pass a roadworthy inspection before sale, so.... ... but in the interest of being a good neighbour, I do want to quieten it down a bit. Is anyone here running a quiet aftermarket cat-back on their V36 or 370Z? And the big, bold question: does an aftermarket cat-back really make much of a performance difference on these cars?
    • GTSBoy
      New kid on the block

      By GTSBoy · Posted

      The wiring diagram for the R33 RB25 is freely available, and is essentially the same same as most other RBs (just with differences as to which pin # does which job). To get the ECU to power up, you just need to provide power to the ECCS relay, and have the other power feeds that come in from the top left of the wiring diagram (wrt the ECU) that give perma power to the fuel pump relay, the ECU itself, etc etc, all connected. When you put power on all these it will just come to life. It's pretty clear from the diagram what needs to happen. Just follow the lines from the 12V + supply stuff in the top left over towards the ECU. I've even posted snips of such diagrams (not for vanilla 25, I think for Neo and 26) to various threads here in the last few months, talking about what it takes to get the fuel pump and FPCM up and going. Search these up and they will help get you started on doing the same with the vanilla 25 diagram. Hell, for all I know, I've done the same with that one in years past and have forgotten.
    • Duncan
      New kid on the block

      By Duncan · Posted

      Yep...so unless someone posts up the answer you will need to probe from the ECU connector to the dash plug with a multi meter in continuity mode to trace the wires.  Note the ECU has multiple - and + (and across different key settings - Battery, IGN and Start) and most likely the power is fed from the connector(s) that is normally near the left hand headlight.
    • Songo
      New kid on the block

      By Songo · Posted

      Thanks Duncan, I am actually just trying to get the Rb turning and running with the RB25DET S2 original loom itself  I am just trying to get it going outside the body and not thinking about the S15 or trying to match anything to the S15 loom at all I am only trying to see if anyone has done this and what pin they found to be the ignition trigger and ECU+/- on the dash connector, that's about it. Thanks  
    • iain_ST44GA
      M35 VQ25DET starter motor

      By iain_ST44GA · Posted

      Hi Guys, Does anyone know any aftermarket part numbers for a starter motor to suit the VQ25DET? I can find lots of alternative part number for the VQ35DE, which I assume would fit, but there is a lot of conflicting information out there. Thanks..
×
×
  • Create New...