power steering

pandas66

Hi
Lady car owner alert 1st so talk down to me and I will understand!

Got a Rover 420 Diesel P reg, had in the family from new 1 male driver wouldn't know where the oil is, 1 lady driver regularly checks tyre/oil/water
Its making a funny noise!
Its seems to be coming from the steering, so I am assuming it may need the power steering fluid checked, never done this.
Rang the male driver (Dad) and asked if I should/how to and he said he never had on that 1 or any other car he's had. So I went to Halfords as it was just over the way from where I was girly shopping (food and shoes) and looked on the shelves, no such luck, I didn't ask as it was full of men waiting to laugh at me, I left, came home.
So I will ring my garage on Monday who will patronise me too but will sort it out at cost, so my question is can I check and refill the power steering fluid?
I understand it may not be that but if it is, can I?
The sound lessened as I drove and turned.
btw its blue

northern_munky

Your PAS fluid is the same as what a lot of automatic gearboxes use, its called Dexron II and you can buy the stuff in 500ml or 1 litre containers, which will be more than enough for a top up. What sort of noise is it though, could it be the belt slipping (screeching) or is it another noise?

rdwarr

Good advice from the above post. Note that there are two sorts of fluid available (it's normally called "transmission fluid"), TQF and TQ Dexron II. As stated you need the latter.
When you top up check the colour of what's in the reservoir. It should be the same as comes out the container - a pinky red. It should be easy to find - do you have handbook or similar?

pandas66

Thanks for the replies, I do have a handbook and no not thought of looking in there, obviously will have to to locate said resevoir!
The noise is sort of a low grinding, like something rubbing, its not a fan belt kind of a slipping noise I know that 1 unless you mean a different belt.

pandas66

btw, the noise was better after I had driven for a short while, so I wondered if the oil/lubrican t would have warmed up and be better, now I sound girly again! apologies. Son couldn't hear it all, but as I only ever used to driving old bangers I got used to listening to the engine.

trigger_mike

i wonder if it the pas rack it's self thats giving the trouble, has the steering started to get heavy? as the other have said, use ATM (automatic transmission) oil for the pas,
the fuild goes in the white bottle on the left side of this picture, make sure it's on the max mark.

pandas66

yes it has got a little heavier, not greatly at the moment but enought that I noticed.




byw mine is blue and the pic shown is red!..........thanks very much xx I'm gonna go check the level and report back

pandas66

Right been out and investigated.
The bottle is exactly where you said it was and the level is lower than the lower

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upper

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lower

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mine

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bottom of resevoir
there is however oil on outside of container, maybe a leak? the pipe next to it is wet looking too.

trigger_mike

sounds like a leak then, get it topped out, must do it soon though, you don't want the steering locking up whisted your driving, ask at your local motor factors for a wynn's power steering stop leak, you add it do the system and it should help slow down if not stop the leak, heres alink to the webpage to help show you what your after.
http://www.wynns.uk.com/contextra/TemplateParser.asp?sId=17&TopID=3

pandas66

Thanks very much, I'll get 1st owner to take me tomnorrow, he can look all macho.
Thanks for all replies, set me at ease too.
I did have a power assisted car blow up on me once 3rd lane M5, no steering, lucky for me it was very quiet and I was able (with hazzards on) to move across to the hard shoulder.