Any mechanics here? Power steering has died!

donnap83

OH was reversing in to a parking space on Saturday when there was a pop from under the bonnet, and the car started groaning. Got out of the car and all over the ground was the power steering fluid. Nightmare. He had a quick poke under the bonnet but couldn't really do much, given that we were in Morrisons carpark. He decided to cut the belt to the power steering pump to stop the pump drying out (i think thats what he said) but as soon as he cut the belt he realised that it was also moved the water around.

He decided to take a chance and drive it back but you could see the temperature gauge on the dash climbing. Managed to get to my mums house before the car over heated. Its still there at the moment...poor car!!

Anyway, being a girl i've relayed the problem as best i can on here looking for some advise. The car is an old shape Vectra, diesel.

He thinks that the fluid pipe either ruptured, or worked itself loose. If thats the case, he can fix it himself, along with the belt.

Just wondered if someone in the know can give some advise?

Many thanks!!

(Hope all this makes sense!!)

TiTheRev

Sounds like he's already diagnosed it!

Without seeing it's hard to know, but it will most probably be a ruptured/loose pipe. Quite an easy fix, replace the broken part (and belt!) and then refill with fluid. Job done, and should work fine straight away.

donnap83

TiTheRev wrote: »

Sounds like he's already diagnosed it!

Without seeing it's hard to know, but it will most probably be a ruptured/loose pipe. Quite an easy fix, replace the broken part (and belt!) and then refill with fluid. Job done, and should work fine straight away.

He's a bit worried cos someone said it could be the steering rack (?) If it is it's probably not going to be worth fixing it.

TiTheRev

If there is fluid everywhere then it's more likely to be a pipe. The rack may eventually go if you carried on using it without fluid in, but you can get seals to repair/replace worn ones on the rack too.

colino

Vectra pipes had a habit of working loose so could be a quick and easy fix. Much more concerned though that he might have cooked the engine.

donnap83

colino wrote: »

Vectra pipes had a habit of working loose so could be a quick and easy fix. Much more concerned though that he might have cooked the engine.

The temp gauge didn't hit the red zone, and i started the car to shift it a couple of metres yesterday and it's fine.

Would the engine have blown up if it overheated??

TiTheRev

May have warped the head if run at high temp for a while.

donnap83

TiTheRev wrote: »

May have warped the head if run at high temp for a while.

was driven for about 10 minutes max. Like I said, it didn't hit the red, but was heading that way

TiTheRev

Should be ok then, but best to get it checked if it goes up once the PAS problem is fixed.

donnap83

TiTheRev wrote: »

Should be ok then, but best to get it checked if it goes up once the PAS problem is fixed.

I'm hoping so, cos we aren't in a position to buy a new car at the moment. Just need the car to see us through the next couple of months as he's due a hefty refund which will get us a car.

Fingers crossed!!!:D

bigjl

I think the power steering belt may operate the water pump on this engine, or it does if it is the 2.0 DTi or the 2.2DTi. They have a camchain.

The later 1.9CDTi has a cambelt and wouldn't be affected if you cut the multibelt, apart from the alternator not charging probably.

The early engine is a hardy lump, change the power steering pump of whatever, and stick on a new belt, the chances of the head gasket having gone are not that much, especially as in 10 miles a DTi engine hasn't had the chance to get that hot.

I had a Focus TDDi with a knackered water pump that I drove 20 miles in, just pulled over to let it cool a few times, then changed the water pump and belt and off I went. Obviously that was a different engine, but all direct injection diesels are slower to heat up than a petrol engine or an earlier diesel.