Stearing Fluid

[Guest Murdock]

I noticed the other day that my power steering was juddering when under a slight load, it was not accompanied by the slipping belt sound.

 

I check the fluid and when hot it was a good 2 cm above the hot mark.

 

my questions are:

 

It this too much fluid?

+

what could be causing my juddering slow speed steering?

 

Hope someone can help

[Ivor_E_Tower]

It is too much fluid - have you checked the level previously? Juddering can be caused by several things - air in the system (which could explain the rise in level up to a point-how is the air getting in? ...and if it is getting in, why isn't the fluid escaping when engine switched off?; sticking spool valves in the rack causing the equivalent of "water hammer" in the steering rack; slipping pump causing varying level of assistance (but you appear to have ruled this out from existing diagnostics). Maybe other causes too.

[seatkid]

No, I don't think you can have "too much" PS fluid.

 

There is a known design problem where a low frequency "trumpeting" can occur on manouvering at low speed. It is not a serious problem but requires revised piping to be fitted to get rid of it.

 

Mine does it occasionally, the dealers never read the TIS when I complained so it never got done.

 

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN No.126/1997

Car and Light/Medium Commercial 04.06.1997

 

 

Section: 13

 

Model: Galaxy LHD only built from 09/95 (build code SJ) onwards

 

Markets: All except United Kingdom/Eire

 

Subject: Power steering noise whilst manoeuvrering at slow speeds

 

Service Instruction

 

Should a customer express concern over noises from the power assisted steering whilst manoeuvrering at slow speeds (eg whilst parking in confined spaces), it is possible for fluctuations in fluid pressure to cause the high-pressure pipe to oscillate, resulting in a `trumpeting' type noise. This can be resolved by removing the high pressure pipe (refer to the Galaxy Service Microfiche, Operation Number 13 442 0) and installing a revised pipe (see Parts Required).

 

NOTE:

The new high-pressure pipe must be installed so that it does not touch other components such as heat shields, cross members, air conditioning pipes or the steering gear.