Power Steering Fault - Vectra

Inner_Zone

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

I've just had another look. The reservoir is definitely behind the engine. It's got 'power steering' helpfully written on it. Doubt I'll be able to shine a torch through it, so will need to get the tool.

Cheers pennypincher3562

All the more reason to measure the battery / alternator voltage first.

ChumLee

Inner_Zone wrote: »

The Haynes manual shows a normal screw top.

But Vectra C show a torx cap with normal hand removable cap:

https://www.vectra-c.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=103495&d=1435289021

https://www.vectra-c.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=103496&d=1435289037

That's because there are two types.

http://www.megavaux.co.uk/part-power_steering_pump_trw__pq_vauxhall_vectra__signum-3573.aspx

http://www.megavaux.co.uk/part-power_steering__pump_trw_vauxhall_vectra_c_and_signum-3547.aspx

ChumLee

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

I've just had another look. The reservoir is definitely behind the engine. It's got 'power steering' helpfully written on it. Doubt I'll be able to shine a torch through it, so will need to get the tool.

Cheers pennypincher3562

It unscrews like a bottle top. You don't need a tool.

Strider590

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

I've just had another look. The reservoir is definitely behind the engine. It's got 'power steering' helpfully written on it. Doubt I'll be able to shine a torch through it, so will need to get the tool.

Cheers pennypincher3562

I just took this picture less than an hour ago.

The torx cap looks as though it's just a safety thing, it's probably Vauxhall procedure to give it a quarter turn with a tool after getting it hand tight.

Good idea to check around it for leaks too. There's a hose on the RH side (looking from the front) and the reservoir itself is VERY deep, so if you don't see fluid then it'll be pretty obvious. If it's low then the problem then comes down the finding out where it's gone.

If on the other hand you do see fluid at that sort of level, then your issue is likely the pump, perhaps even your auxiliaries belt.

pennypincher3562

Thanks a lot strider that was very useful.

Cheers
Pennypincher3562

arcon5

LOL not sure what shape that is but it's very off shape for a torx!!!

Have you even tried placing hand on cap and turning anti-clockwise? If you are struggling to understand how it opens then pretend its a bottle of squash and turn in the same way.

Putting it back on is the reverse of above! lol

Strider590

arcon5 wrote: »

LOL not sure what shape that is but it's very off shape for a torx!!!

Have you even tried placing hand on cap and turning anti-clockwise? If you are struggling to understand how it opens then pretend its a bottle of squash and turn in the same way.

Putting it back on is the reverse of above! lol

Nah I think it's a T100, as it's about 22mm point to point, but T100 is quite a difficult size to get hold of in any DIY shop. Hopefully it won't be needed though.

pennypincher3562

Ive managed to open the hydraulic fluid reservoir, and it's pretty well topped up.

Some posters have mentioned that this fault can be due to voltage. Is it possible that I was going so slow at the time that it caused an electrical issue? Sometimes I go so slow over speed bumps, the engine almost stalls and the battery warning light comes on.

I'm probably going to have to take the car to a garage, as it's potentially a dangerous fault.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

Inner_Zone

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Ive managed to open the hydraulic fluid reservoir, and it's pretty well topped up.

Some posters have mentioned that this fault can be due to voltage. Is it possible that I was going so slow at the time that it caused an electrical issue? Sometimes I go so slow over speed bumps, the engine almost stalls and the battery warning light comes on.

I'm probably going to have to take the car to a garage, as it's potentially a dangerous fault.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

So you are presumably driving slowly in a high gear?

So this power steering issue is a red herring?

Unless as already stated the alternator / battery are failing or there is another issue with the car or elsewhere?

pennypincher3562

Hi Inner Zone

My last post was badly worded, so I've re-written it.

- You ask 'is the power steering issue a red herring.' No, there is a real problem with the steering. The steering warning light came on, and I could hardly turn the car.

- As for the battery/alternator. I don't think it's that, the car starts effortlessly.

- Yes, I do have the bad habit of driving in too high a gear while going over speed bumps etc. This causes the engine to almost stall, and the battery warning light to come on. Could this contribute to the steering issue at all?

Thanks
PennyPincher3562