Power Steering prob

[Chris32]

I have a power steering problem, if anyone else has had this problem and could help me out that would be great -

Steering wheel feels heavy, like there is almost no power assistance -

- Replaced power steering pump with another pump, and it still has a heavy wheel and is exactly the same as before

- Fluid level checked and is fine

I have my HICAS locked, it has been replaced with a solid setup, and the lines have been plugged with a steel shim.This setup has been on there for over 12 months with no problems

I have been told that if its not the pump, it must be the rack, but I just want to know if it could be anything else

Anyone?

Chris

[Greg]

hicas is the cause - i started having the exact same problem after i fitted a lock bar.

nice wheels btw

[Chris32]

hhhmmmmmmmm, makes no sense though, as it has had the HICAS lock on there for ages with no problems at all????

[Cubes]

Have you simply looped the hicas or plugged it up?

It should be looped.

I know the Tomei hicas lock kit replaces the Hicas ECU.

Steering wheel hasn't been removed lately?

[Chris32]

HICAS is plugged, but it has the Tomei ecu circuit wired in so in theory it shouldn't be pumping anything

So you reckon to loop the HICAS? Might have to give it a shot

Why would it be fine for over a year, and only get problems now? Also, how much pressure goes to the HICAS rack? If I was to plumb it to return, I'd have to cut the old hoses and join them up, would a few hose clamps suffice?

[Chris32]

Well, last night it came good!

I was playing around trying to loop the HICAS, I did a little experiment by un-doing the HICAS plugs I have, and starting the car. To my surprise, there was no fluid present in the HICAS lines at all, even when I started it, turned the wheel etc.

So the Tomei HICAS circuit looks like it doesn't allow the solenoid to open at all, hence no pressure being sent/lost in the HICAS lines

Talking to a guy at repco, he suggested, with the car off and the keys in the ignition so you car turn the wheel, to do 3 or four full lock turns left/right, to bleed the power steering rack

After thinking about it, I figured that if the HICAS lines are blocked, hence not comepleting the power steering fluid circuit completely, perhaps there might be air in there, so I tried his trick.............

and bugger me, it worked! It feels much better ( as stupid as it sounds I can't be sure how it felt before, I have gotten so used to the heavy wheel lol!! ) If it stays the way it is now forever, I'd be happy!

So looks like problem was air trapped in the rack, after power steer pump replacement, and having the HICAS lines blocked, the air couldn't get up to the resivior under normal circumstances

After speaking to the guy at the wrecker I got my pump off, he said to be sure, start it and get it up on a hoist and crack the lines going to the rack to see if any air gets squeezed out of them too

So for now, problem solvered!!

Chris

[Bl4cK32]

mine does the same...steering goes heavy at times...but the hicas light isnt on, just goes heavy. Ive got the Tomei kit here, just havent got around to fitting it yet.

I have bled the system in the past, but i guess it may be due for another....*sigh* more maintenance....maybe one of those quartely jobs that need doing??

[Chris32]

I wouldn't know if my HICAS light was on, as I pulled the bulb out around 3 years ago!

My bet is that my problem was just air in it, and needed a quick bleed

[Cubes]

Interesting..

So it still bleeds fine even with the front wheels on the ground.

My old man always told me to jack the sucker up and do it as it is meant to bleed better.

[Chris32]

Yeah, it bled fine, no probs apart from the marks on my driveway

Might jack it up and give it another go tomorrow and see if that makes a differance, but it is definatly better than before

[hayai32]

I've been having similar problems with the steering stiffening up too but it is not constantly stiff..... When i first turn the car on the steering is normal but after say 5 mins it stiffens up significantly..... This started to happen the exact same day my speedo cable broke and as the power steering is speed sensitive there must be a connection. I have had the whole system checked and flushed and it has made no change. Is there any problems with your speedo? I'm getting the cable replaced next thurs so i'll know if that's the cause then...

[Chris32]

nah, speedo is fine

I know on a mate 33, we took the dash/speedo out to be replaced and the power steering would not work properly without the dash being in, so maybe it gets its speed signal from that, and then works out how much power steering is needed etc

[Bl4cK32]

33 has electronic driven speedo. R32 is cable driven....but they both need a signal to work

And yes, it helps jacking the front end up, remove the power steer lid, turn the wheel, and watch the bubbles come out....job finished when their gone.