Power Steering Pump Replacement Procedure

[junky]

After having problems with the power steering, occassionally cutting out and heavy steering and a whining noise I think the first course of action is to replace the pump, of course fluid replacement and belt too at the same time,possibly even the hoses.

 

The pump is solely mechanical as far as I can tell, I think it would be obvious if it were electro-mechanical as there would be wiring to the pump which I can't see any wires going to the pump.

 

The question is, never having done one before, how would one best go about draining the fluid, minimising spillage.

 

Any tips/hints etc....

[junky]

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Edited April 20, 2013 by junky

[junky]

A couple of queries:

The PS pump is driven by the auxiliary belt, what else is driven by this belt? Alternator, water pump! Is it possible one of these is seizing causing the belt to turn at a lesser speed hence PS pump not delivering the pressure required. The whining could be coming from one of these other parts rather than the PS pump but can clearly be heard in the area of the auxiliary belt though hard to determine exactly.

 

Another question is the pump supplies the fluid around the PS system, through the top-up reservoir with incorporated filter to the steering rack then back to the pump, how does the steering rack control the flow of PS fluid? (i.e the pressure is increased when turning the steering I believe, but how mechanical valves or electronically controlled. Sensor in the steeering wheel controls a valve on the rack?) Is the PS steering system completely mechanical??? Or electronic control somewhere on the rack???

 

I would like to get a complete understanding of the system to establish all possible solutions to the fault.

[chrispb123456]

I was going to suggest seized alternator clutch pulley you have posted in the mk3 section but you have 1.9 in your profile can you confirm?

[junky]

Apologies, it is in fact a 1.8 TDCi, I shall amend my profile. I do have a 1.9TD '98 Galaxy so got confused!

I get the '98 whilst my partner rides around with her nose high in the '08.

[junky]

Aha, it is in fact an '08 1.8TDCi. My partners car.

 

I have the '98 Galaxy!

[junky]

I came across an interesting article regarding an on-board 'self test' function, so of I went notepad in hand and discovered DTC code C41668, I think this is unrelated to the fault I am having but thought it worth mentioning as I might get bashed if later reveal this discovery.

 

Another interesting discovery from my '98 service manual, a power steering pressure switch on the rack. Could it be the MK3 has the same.

But what does this 'switch' do? Is it actually a switch or a sensor???

Edited April 22, 2013 by junky

[chrispb123456]

But what does this 'switch' do? Is it actually a switch or a sensor???

 

The switch is to raise the idle speed of the engine when maneuvering at low speed. EG. parking

[junky]

OK so is there one on a MK3?