Guest Bullyboy Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Hi all having problems with my power steering (xsara picasso 55), at idle or low revs it is very heavy if you increase the engine revs slightly then it appears to come back. Took it to a local garage they said might be pump or could be rack that they were not sure, took it to a citroen garage they tested it for an hour and said they were resonably sure it was the pump and would cost £480 to replace. Not being prepared to pay £480 for something that only had a resonable chance of sucess,I have sourced a second hand pump from a dealer online with a view to replacing it myself, however before I do all of this I noticed that there is a pressure switch in the system which I believe is supposed to increase the engine revs at low speeds/idle and was wondering how this works? Is it a potentiometer type arrangement or a straight on/off switch. I have bought a haynes manual but it doesnt even mention it in there!!nor can I find any info online. The reason I query the pump being faulty is that surely even reving the engine slightly would not increase the power steering if the pump was knackered, or would it? Just wondered if anyone had any ideas or experience of this. Quote
Guest womble Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Basic rule of fluid dynamics, the faster the pump is running the more fluid should be pumped through it up to the maximum flow rate for the pump. Dont know how they test power steering in garages these days but when I used to work on earthmoving plant (similar principles just bigger bits!) it was always neccesary to carry out a pressure/flow test of the pump, valves and rams/steering arms. This silly nonsense of garages replacing bits on a whim "Because it might be that" is getting beyond a joke. Surely it would be more prudent to spend longer on a diagnostic fault find to pin-point the problem rather than milk the customer of another few hundred notes that "might fix it" The jury is out, I remain unimpressed.... Quote
Guest Bullyboy Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Basic rule of fluid dynamics, the faster the pump is running the more fluid should be pumped through it up to the maximum flow rate for the pump. Dont know how they test power steering in garages these days but when I used to work on earthmoving plant (similar principles just bigger bits!) it was always neccesary to carry out a pressure/flow test of the pump, valves and rams/steering arms. This silly nonsense of garages replacing bits on a whim "Because it might be that" is getting beyond a joke. Surely it would be more prudent to spend longer on a diagnostic fault find to pin-point the problem rather than milk the customer of another few hundred notes that "might fix it" The jury is out, I remain unimpressed.... Thanks for that womble that was my understanding of fluid dynamics hence the reason I was wondering about the inline pressure switch, I was wondering if it could be that as my understanding is that it senses the pressure and at low rpm/idle it increases the engine rpm to compensate. I just cant find any information on it, I have tried shorting it out with a link to simulate closed and open and it does not alter the engine rpm at all. I was hoping someone might be able to explain the purpose/operation of the switch before fitting the pump that I have sourced, or if there was anything else that people might have experienced. Quote
Guest Pete c3 Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 the presure switch on the rack also works with the speed sensor for the vareable pressure to work so its light at low speed and heavier at higher speed, mine was the one on the rack and if memory serves me right its about 12 quid from citroen and a bottle of fluid. remember on filling the system you need to fill it then turn the car over and go full lock both ways to bleed it then leave it over night then top up again once all the airs out of the system Quote
Guest Bullyboy Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 the presure switch on the rack also works with the speed sensor for the vareable pressure to work so its light at low speed and heavier at higher speed, mine was the one on the rack and if memory serves me right its about 12 quid from citroen and a bottle of fluid. remember on filling the system you need to fill it then turn the car over and go full lock both ways to bleed it then leave it over night then top up again once all the airs out of the systemManaged to get a second hand pump online for £49 delivered, fitted although getting the drive belt back on was a pain in the ar*e as was removing the lower power steering pump bolt at the rear as the exhaust outlet limits room. But SUCCESS power steering working great. With hind sight it must have been gradually failing for months and I just hadnt noticed it is as light as a feather. Thanks to all that helped. Bullyboy Quote
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