Power Steering Reservoir

[Airrex7]

2003 Mk 2 Galaxy 2.3 Auto

 

Just had the Galaxy Mot, needed new front disc's and pads to pass.

 

Is there a power steering reservoir on the Mk 2, is so where is it in the engine compartment, can I top it up myself and what spec' oil do I require?

 

Steering begining to make a grinding noise when I turn steering wheel, ( not just on full lock ), tyres are correct pressure.

 

Also, MOT station advised/ written OS & NS Macpherson struts have. slight movement at upper attachment and will need replacing at some time but not to worry yet.

 

What does replacement entail, they told me they would charge me

[Amarok]

2003 Mk 2 Galaxy 2.3 Auto

 

Just had the Galaxy Mot, needed new front disc's and pads to pass.

 

Is there a power steering reservoir on the Mk 2, is so where is it in the engine compartment, can I top it up myself and what spec' oil do I require?

 

Steering begining to make a grinding noise when I turn steering wheel, ( not just on full lock ), tyres are correct pressure.

 

Also, MOT station advised/ written OS & NS Macpherson struts have. slight movement at upper attachment and will need replacing at some time but not to worry yet.

 

What does replacement entail, they told me they would charge me £160 per side, does that sound about right?

 

They said they had to drop the front suspension and it was a big job.

 

Could anyone recommend some struts?

 

The power steering reservoir on the MK1 is next to the battery and you use power steering / Automatic trans fluid.

The grinding could be one of two things

a) Rack on its way out

:) pump on its way out

 

As your vehicle passed the MOT they would have checked the rack for free play so I suspect its the pump, Plenty second hand knocking about

 

The McPherson strut is relatively easy to change and is a couple of bolts and the lower wishbone out, I would shop around IMHO £160 to supply and fit BOTH struts would be more the case

 

These days the sell inserts that go into your struts which are lot cheaper.

 

But I wouldn't worry too much as the struts are there to make the ride smoother and unless they are knocking or clunking could last another 24 months.

These are difficult times, I am sure you could find something better to spend your £160 on ;).

 

Kind Regards

Edited October 14, 2011 by Amarok

[Airrex7]

Thank you

 

Where is the power steering fluid reservoir on the Mk 2 Galaxy?

Edited October 15, 2011 by Airrex7

[Amarok]

Thank you

 

Where is the power steering fluid reservoir on the Mk 2 Galaxy?

 

I assume it is the same as MK1 ?

open the bonnet and look by the battery there should be two yellow caps one is screen wash and one is power steering

Kind Regards

[Mirez]

But I wouldn't worry too much as the struts are there to make the ride smoother and unless they are knocking or clunking could last another 24 months.

 

Hummm....The struts are there to keep the tyre in contact with the road, a smoother ride is a byproduct- during heavy braking they stop the front of the vehicle submarining which can allow the rear axle to lock and slide (if you don't have ABS) or if you do it will still have a big effect on braking efficiency - if they are worn, replace them BUT a lot of garages mis-diagnose the Galaxy's somewhat unusual floating top mount as wear so get a second opinion first.

 

The Mk2 has a battery cover on it which will stop you being able to see the reservoir, undo the two thumb screws and lift off the cover - the reservoirs at the front with the yellow cap on - check it when the the vehicles cold.

[Amarok]

Hummm....The struts are there to keep the tyre in contact with the road,

 

 

sorry to contradict the springs keep the struts on the road which in turn keep the wheels on the road

we are talking about the wear in the DAMPING strut mount? not the Ball joints ? I agree would be a problem if the ball joints were worn but as you correctly say wear in the damping strut mount is not a safety issue or they would have failed it for sure don't you think ?

 

and as for anti-submarine, lets be totally honest you have to be really going to reqire that feature (In a Galaxy ??) and I would suspect a 5 - 8 year old strut wouldn't be working 100% in the first place I wouldn't expect my 97 Galaxy to save me if i was driving like a nutter on Korean tyres and 10 year old suspension....

Edited October 15, 2011 by Amarok

[Mirez]

sorry to contradict the springs keep the struts on the road which in turn keep the wheels on the road

 

 

Don't follow that? In the context of braking, as the vehicle brakes the weight will be transferred to the front - the spring and shock will both be loaded at this point and if you then hit (for the purpose of this example) a large speedbump the upward energy will be dissipated by the strut not the spring. Submarining takes place from around 15mph and up, you don't need to be pushing it you just need some idiot to pull out in front of you requiring a heavy brake for the effect to be present - the further the front end drops the higher the rear end becomes and subsequently braking efficiency is reduced.

 

However as you say the strut itself isn't in question but the top mount is. Neither of us can comment without seeing the vehicle and I'm not trying to encourage parts to be changed for the sake of it, I simply don't like the attitude of leave it till it breaks because on a brake or suspension component that normally occurs when you (or the poor sod you are about to hit) really need it to perform.

[Airrex7]

Thanks for all the replies and advise.

 

Found the power steering reservoir,( by the battery, no cover but there was ???), quick trip to local Halfords has resolved the grinding noise for now.

 

On the MOT advise note it states, " oil leak ", I phoned the MOT station later the same day and asked where they thought the leak might be, they didn't know, just said they found evidence of an oil leak??

 

When I topped up the reservoir there was so little in it, I am wondering if power steering rack has leak.

 

I have had the Mk 2 Gal' since 2006, she is low milage, just under 55,000 miles and apart from rear pads, blades, new tyres all round and a minor accident over the years she has been great and flown through her MOTs with out costing any thing but the fee.

 

She had a major service about 18 months ago but she has done little in milage since that time.

 

About two year ago or so I changed all the tyres and had the front tracking done which was way out.

 

Just before this years MOT I noticed the inside of both front tyres were realy worn while the rest of the tread was OK.

 

I thought Gal' ain't going to pass an MOT like that, so had a never used Event tyre in the garage, ordered another from, "Camskill", took vehicle and tyres to shop, fitted and tracked,

Edited October 15, 2011 by Airrex7

[daddyfixit]

the top mount is shaped (tapered) so that if you jack the car up and shake the roadwheel it feels like the suspension strut (shock absorber) is rattling about loose !! but when you lower the car to the floor, the mount goes up into a shaped "hole" that it fits into and then stops the top of the strut from moving about.

they can be changed at the same time as shock absorbers, as you undo the centre securing nut to remove the strut when you are taking them off.

seems a lot of garages try to tell owners they need new mounts when in fact, there is nothing wrong !!! when they are worn they may give off knocking/creaking noises (but so do many other parts) so if new noises appear be sure to get them checked out to see whats worn out instead of replacing a load of parts at once ???

[cyborg]

3Good evening,

 

Been watching this thread popcorn in hand better than tv <_<

 

"On the advise note it states as written, Front ( NS & OS ), Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment ( 2.5.A.1c )."

 

Now on a normal mot on a type 4 suspension the tester would follow ;

 

Inspect as follows:

1.Grasp the top of each front wheel and rock it vigorously in and out to check for play:

a. in the upper and lower suspension ball joints and wishbone bearings

b. at MacPherson strut:

sliding bushes and glands

upper support bearings

2.Grasp each front wheel at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock, and shake vigorously to determine the condition of the outer ball joints and track control arm inner bushes.

3.Examine the condition of the bonding between the metal and flexible material in the MacPherson strut upper support bearing, if visible.

 

 

 

However on a galaxy...

 

The upper mount support bearing isn't visable so the tester will move the strut as he would any other type 4 suspension and it will seem excessive however

there are extra notes from vosa with they may not have read concerning the galaxy upper mount's.So in essence it is possible your cars ok

[Amarok]

sorry to contradict the springs keep the struts on the road which in turn keep the wheels on the road

 

 

Don't follow that? In the context of braking, as the vehicle brakes the weight will be transferred to the front - the spring and shock will both be loaded at this point and if you then hit (for the purpose of this example) a large speedbump the upward energy will be dissipated by the strut not the spring. Submarining takes place from around 15mph and up, you don't need to be pushing it you just need some idiot to pull out in front of you requiring a heavy brake for the effect to be present - the further the front end drops the higher the rear end becomes and subsequently braking efficiency is reduced.

 

However as you say the strut itself isn't in question but the top mount is. Neither of us can comment without seeing the vehicle and I'm not trying to encourage parts to be changed for the sake of it, I simply don't like the attitude of leave it till it breaks because on a brake or suspension component that normally occurs when you (or the poor sod you are about to hit) really need it to perform.

 

Understood <_<

Kind Regards

[Airrex7]

However on a galaxy...

 

The upper mount support bearing isn't visable so the tester will move the strut as he would any other type 4 suspension and it will seem excessive however

there are extra notes from vosa with they may not have read concerning the galaxy upper mount's.So in essence it is possible your cars ok

Thanks Cyborg

[Airrex7]

Thanks for all the replies.