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Either got a leak in the hosing or the pump seal (more likely) has gone on my power steering.
How long can I drive with it like that? Do I just need arms like popeye or will it seize?
If your a mechanic which do you think is more likely?
Driving fine, got to a roundabout and heard a loud whining noise, steering has been erratic in resistance ever since and noise has gotten worse when turning. Topped up the system this morning and bled but I had a bit of a leak (couldn't track down the source with the snow/ice) even in the 20 mins I was doing that so I can't be topping it up with 300mls everyday. Hose or Seal?
Edit - forgot to say car is going to the scrapper in a coupla weeks so I'm not spending cash that don't have to, but on the other hand the wife is due on sunday so I need someway to get up to the hospital.
wife is due on sunday so I need someway to get up to the hospital.
Taxi?
You can still drive it. It's hard work but you can do it.
wife is due on sunday so I need someway to get up to the hospital.
Taxi?
Don't worry - with duff steering and icy roads an ambulance will be along shortly 🙂
driving without power steering is easy. parking on the other hand...
could try some of this
[url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LUCAS-OIL-POWER-STEERING-STOP-LEAK-MONEY-BACK-GUARANTEE-/360311930370?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item53e443be02#ht_500wt_1156 ]lucas oil leak stop[/url]
So it won't seize up then?
Class - I'm fine with lugging the wheel around for parking, I'll just pretend the noise is the turbo or something.
Taxi?
Nah, I'm not going to be there, I'll pop up after the gory bit to say hello - she's at her mothers with the other car laughing at me.
I'll might swop them over tomorrow and see what I can get for the duff one at the scrappers.
It's not gory you flippin ponce.
I thought C-sections involved cutting?
Having the hydraulic ram on there is pretty dangerous in my opinion. You can use a power steering rack with this removed no problem, but it is beyond heavy trying to steer with no pump/fluid and the ram still attached.
It's dangerous
[i]It's not gory you flippin ponce.[/i]
What? It's like a Vimto lorry crashing into a butchers shop!
How long it lasts is anybodies guess.
It could either seize, or the bearings could fall apart, leading to whatever belt that drives it snapping/melting/falling off.
Personally, if you're planning on scrapping it anyway and just need a couple more weeks out of it, I'd look to see if it was something simple that could be bodged to reduce the leakage (ie a chaffed/holed pipe that could have a bit split rubber hose put over it with a hose clip directly over the leak to reduce leakage when not under load).
Also, just top it up every couple of days, as even if the oil is leaking out, a bit fresh oil will help stop things seizing/falling apart.
but it is beyond heavy trying to steer with no pump/fluid and the ram still attached.It's dangerous
I've done it, it really wasn't that bad. Certainly not enough to really affect my driving.
I would look to see if there is something simple, but the only level place around here is a carpark that is covered in 3" of ice and I'm not going to jack the car up on that (even with jack stands).
THink I'm going to swop the cars out and just scrap the knackered one early doors - driving is ok but if it does seize I'm banjaxed.
cheers muchly.
Driving a car with failed power steering isn't the end of the world- it's hard work but doable- but recovering if it fails mid corner, well, that ain't so easy, nearly put mine in a ditch that way. I'd sooner have none at all.
If you're anywhere near Kidderminster I can get you a virtually unlimited supply of second hand power steering fluid from oil changes on a fleet of buses to keep topping it up.
I think that leak stop stuff works by softening the seals. It won't help if it's a hose leaking.
Does the belt drive anything else as well as the steering pump ?
If not, take it off. That will stop the squealing noise.
We had a old merc that leaked power steering fluid, ran it for year but just regularly topping up the fluid...
I'm in the wicklow mtns - bit too far from kidderminster but thanks for the offer.
System is totally drained now and the noise has stopped - just phoning around scrappers/breakers to see what I can get (It has some sought after injectors and stuff).
It's not actually that bad to drive/park, I've just have to use that push/pull thing they teach you when you learn to drive which you dump as soon as you have passed.
molgrips - Member
It's not gory you flippin ponce.
It is
No it isnt.
I thought C-sections involved cutting?
They do, but it's all very surgical and they use screens and that to shield you from the action. Go. You will regret not being there.
Baby comes out of fanny - what's gory about that?
Yeh driving a car with no power steering fluid is fine at speed but cornering can be very interesting and off camber roundabouts can be quite scray. As long as your prepared for the steering wheel to suddenly jerk out your hand then you'll be fine. Are you really thinking of taking your wife and unborn child in this car?
Are you really thinking of taking your wife and unborn child in this car?
hah - no, she's up in dublin at her mums (5 mins around the corner from the baby factory) in the good car with snow tyres and everything laughing at me.
Go. You will regret not being there.
Well I was fast asleep, 50miles away for the last one and I don't regret that so I can see it being the same this time around too. I have no idea why a bloke would want to be there.
I have no idea why a bloke would want to be there.
true. signed, father of two.
I have no idea why a bloke would want to be there.
Heh, fair enough, I stand corrected. 🙂