Power Steering Fault (yes, another 1!)

[jackaz195]

My steering was going intermittently a little while back and we fiddled with relays and it started working again. Got out of the cooper yesterday and a 'weewah' wining noise was going when i got out and left the car. opened the bonnet up and after five mins it went.

Tried to start car today, but electrics were all gone, even immobilizer and key fob were out. Tried a bump start and got stuck down my hill! Luckily an awesome RAC dude came out and got me home, he spent over an hour lookin at it and was able to juice the battery enough to get in turning over. He worked out that the power steering module was shorted and was then draining the battery. He also pointed out that the mini has a combination of electric assisted PAS and hydrolic- which he then said that the electric assist would be only be used for parking and could be removed as a cheaper fix leaving me with 'standard' PAS and no module to drain the battery. Now I have never understood whether my ASC toggle switch is set to a default on or off position when the car starts- could excessive use of this feature have worn the system so much that it has shorted?

I am now currently having to disconnect battery at night, need to take it somewhere tomorrow but a mini dealer is prob out as its an 01 cooper with 90grand on the clock.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[ratherbewindsurfing]

Quote: Originally Posted by jackaz195 (original)

My steering was going intermittently a little while back and we fiddled with relays and it started working again. Got out of the cooper yesterday and a 'weewah' wining noise was going when i got out and left the car. opened the bonnet up and after five mins it went.

Tried to start car today, but electrics were all gone, even immobilizer and key fob were out. Tried a bump start and got stuck down my hill! Luckily an awesome RAC dude came out and got me home, he spent over an hour lookin at it and was able to juice the battery enough to get in turning over. He worked out that the power steering module was shorted and was then draining the battery. He also pointed out that the mini has a combination of electric assisted PAS and hydrolic- which he then said that the electric assist would be only be used for parking and could be removed as a cheaper fix leaving me with 'standard' PAS and no module to drain the battery. Now I have never understood whether my ASC toggle switch is set to a default on or off position when the car starts- could excessive use of this feature have worn the system so much that it has shorted?

I am now currently having to disconnect battery at night, need to take it somewhere tomorrow but a mini dealer is prob out as its an 01 cooper with 90grand on the clock.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Your RAC dude may have been awesome but he fed you a load of rubbish!

The Power assisted steering system on your mini is hydraulic with an electric pump. It is not an electric sytem.


The ASC system has nothing to do with the power assisted seering system.

You need to get the pump replaced or repaired.
Alternatively
You could remove the power steering sytem altogether, you will be left with steering that's a bit heavy but much better feel and feedback.

I prefer the car without power steering.

Good luck

[jackaz195]

Quote: Originally Posted by ratherbewindsurfing (original)

Your RAC dude may have been awesome but he fed you a load of rubbish!

The Power assisted steering system on your mini is hydraulic with an electric pump. It is not an electric sytem.


The ASC system has nothing to do with the power assisted seering system.

You need to get the pump replaced or repaired.
Alternatively
You could remove the power steering sytem altogether, you will be left with steering that's a bit heavy but much better feel and feedback.

I prefer the car without power steering.

Good luck

cheers mate, i got it replaced in the end, i thought that sounded a bit strange about the switch thingymibob! Whine is much much much quieter now but still there. my fitters said upfront that it wud never go away but it would possibly be quieter, i was surprised how quiet it actually turned out to be for a recon unit. they did a great job and were willing to drop the vat (£60 odd) for cash(though without yer 1yr warranty)....

Happy miniing

[RobFriedman]

Quote: Originally Posted by rgore (original)

Has anyone had intermittent power steering failure???? Just got my mini out of the BMW shop, they said it was the power steering fan. Replaced it and no sooner had I gotten it home... it did it again! Just goes out all of a sudden then comes back. Anyone with similar problems?

I've had it just stop upon starting the car on abt 4 occasions.I'ld turn off the ca and restart it and it wold be fine.
then today while driving (and it was HOT today also) the power steering just failed.. pulled over.. turned it off.. and waiting a few minutes,.. seemed ok upon starting..but failed again.. car was drivable just manual. we went over a friends house (the head of the usminiclub.com).. and were there abt 4 hours or more.. drove home.. all was fine.

could this be just the fan failing? and causing the pump to overheat (which would cause it to shut down??) or is my whole pump (to use the english word) knackerd