Power Steering Fluid In Picasso

[ivesy123]

hello

 

My car has been making a whining noise for a few months now. It turns out the power steering pump is failing.

 

The car is covered for the pump in my warranty but the garage I've taken to have said they they think the problem is down to the wrong steering fluid.  They say it should be a red colour and quite thick or certainly thicker than the one they found in my car.  Mine is thinner and an amber colour.  The car is 7 years old and I've had three years and to my knowledge the fluid has never been replaced or topped up.

 

The garage I usually use (they don't touch warranty companies..) say it is possible to have a mineral based fluid that is amber in colour.

 

I have a sample of the fluid (the new garage have replaced it with the red stuff) and need to find out exactly what it is.  The second garage haev suggested it lookslike brake fluid has been added! But my garage have said of that was the case then not just the pump would be going...

 

Aghhh! any ideas or help would be appreciated what was in my car?

[ivesy123]

I should have said it's a 1.6 Petrol Xsara Picasso 07 Reg with 66k miles.

Edited April 15, 2015 by ivesy123

[ivesy123]

Does anyone know whatmake of  fluid Citroen would have used in the power steering for an 07 1.6 Xsara Picasso? 

[Johndouglas]

Any Dexron type 11 ATF fluid would do.

[ivesy123]

Thanks for the reply, I should have been a bit clearer I'm actually wanting to know what was the fluid in the car from new.

 

The reason I'm asking is becasue what's in now is a honey coloured liquid, relatively thin (say compared to oil) and odour less.

 

Halfords think because it's not red and thick it must be the wrong fluid.  I've never topped it up so I'm assuming it's what's alays been there.

 

My Garage says it is possible the fluid can be what I have.  My garage won't help me deal with the warranty company and Halfords are basically saying wrong fluid + failing pump = not covered by warranty!

 

Halfords have now drained the fluid and replaced it but I don't think it needed doing in the first place.  As i'm being told if it was the wrong fluid it would be more than the pump that was failing!

[Johndouglas]

I would guess that since it's a Citroen, the fluid that would be used at the factory would be Total Fluide ATX

[ivesy123]

Thanks for the replies. i think it's been topped or replaced before I bought it in that case.  Anyway garage have rang the new pump made no difference. They suspect it's  the alternator.  How can three garages get it so wrong?

[paul.h]

A Haynes manual for the 2002 Xsara Picasso gives the steering fluid first mentioned by John ie Dexron type 11 ATF. Some other manuals for later cars (not the Picasso) give Total Fluide DA. So including the Total Fluide ATX there are 3 possibilities for the fluid. Generally though, hydraulic fluids are thin and not thick (viscous).

 

If you go to your Citroen dealer they will supply the correct fluid for your car, never mind what all the other garages are saying and if you find you have the wrong fluid in it may be worth replacing it to avoid possible damage to any seals in the steering rack.

 

The failure to diagnose the source of the noise could be down to insufficient checks before replacing any parts. People often do not use a Citroen dealer due to higher labour rates but they know the cars, any common problems, will use the correct parts and fluids - all of which can work out cheaper in the long run.