Power Steering - Fluid Loss

[TobesM]

Over the past few weeks I've experienced a 'judering' in the steering, and having taken the mini to my local dealer, they found the fluid low (I'd not seen any residue on the drive or where I park at work) and topped it up. They also booked it in for a check-up.

At the checkup they found somehthing else, and rang me to say it needed a new steering rack, and would need to wait until next day deilvery for the bit, and then fit it.

Having just driven it home, the steering feels much lighter than it was, not worryingly so, but still lighter. I wonder if any of you have any views? I'm going to see if I can test drive a mini tomorrow at the same dealer just to see what it feels like.

It also told me to check the steering reservoir, which is next to the coolant tank by the bulkhead in an unmarked black bottle. If its not up to the top mark of the dip stick on the bottle lid, you've lost some. Try this when the mini has been at rest for about half an hour, 'cos its pressurised!

I'll post photos of offending bits tomorrow, but wondered if anyone else had the same thing, and everyones view of the weight of the steering, it feels a bit light to me!

Cheers

Toby

[flyboy2160]

toby,

what tires to you have? i had the same reaction to the power steering feeling overboosted/numb/too light with the pirellis on my mcs. i even considered disconnecting or reducing the boost.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=20401


the dunlop sp9000 run flats give much better feel with the stock power steering.

[sjbartnik]

Perhaps it just feels lighter because you now have a new properly working steering rack whereas before you had gotten used to an underperforming/faulty steering rack?

[TobesM]

I've got 16" Goodyear run flats on the beastie.

I think sjbartnik is right, I've just got used to the duff rack, and it'll take a little while to get used to it actually working!

Id be interested if anyone ever sussed out how to adjust the amount of assistance it gives you, would like just a little bit less.

Didn't get chance to test drive another, but there are some people down the road from me with an MC, so might have a play with theirs.

T

[sjbartnik]

Quote:

Id be interested if anyone ever sussed out how to adjust the amount of assistance it gives you, would like just a little bit less.

I suspect it may be possible but I am just speculating. The p/s pump is electrical and perhaps it has some sort of adjustable pressure regulator or similar.

Or for the ultimate in heavy steering, just pull the fuse for the p/s pump!

[TobesM]

RE: Or for the ultimate in heavy steering, just pull the fuse for the p/s pump!

I could be tempted to try that, but might strain the pump... well, thats what a warranty is for I suppose! I am tempted to fit a switch to the ABS fuse, so when I'm having a slide in Tesco's car park in the snow, I can shut it off, and occasionally you don't want ABS.

I have noticed that the pump seems to have got quieter. I colleague of mine who works in London also has an almost identical MINI to mine, and he is always moaning about the pump whine. Think I'll put one of the sound level meters from work onto it and see what I'm getting.

T

[sjbartnik]

Quote:

Originally posted by TobesM
RE: Or for the ultimate in heavy steering, just pull the fuse for the p/s pump!

I could be tempted to try that, but might strain the pump...

It won't strain the pump if the pump isn't running
Might strain your arms though.

Quote:

well, thats what a warranty is for I suppose! I am tempted to fit a switch to the ABS fuse, so when I'm having a slide in Tesco's car park in the snow, I can shut it off, and occasionally you don't want ABS.

If you do this you will get multiple warning lights and fault codes set for the ABS and no doubt for the ASC or DSC as well. The lights may eventually go out after you re-connect the fuse but the fault codes will no doubt stay stored in memory until the next time the dealer looks them up.

[minitech]

TO WHOM IT MAY CONSERN....DONT TRY TO HIDE THE PROBLEM WITH PULLING THE FUSE OR SOME OTHER HACK JOB! AND IF YOU WANTED TO PULL THE FUSE,THE FUSE IS UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BLOCK,IT IS NOT FUN TO CHANGE OR "JUST PULL".THE MANIFACTURE THAT MAKES THE RACK COULD HAVE CHANGE THE VALVING IN THE RACK TO MEET THE NEW SPECS FGOR THE MINIS NOW.I HAVE NOTICED THE 02-03 ARE DIFRENT FROM ANOTHER IN SMALL WAYS AND THE STEERING ASSIST MIGHT BE ONE OF THEM.THE RACKS ARE IDENTICAL. THERE IS A NEW PART NUMBER THAT THE RACK IS SUPERCEED TO.THAT SHOULD EXPLAIN IT ALL....

[marksan]

My power steering has been acting up over the last couple of days. When I first start the car the steering is heavy for the first minuet or so, also very noisy. Also during this time it judders, feeling as though the fluid was full of air bubbles.

Is this the symptom off a duff steering rack? Or just low fluid?

[TobesM]

Quote:

Originally posted by marksan
My power steering has been acting up over the last couple of days. When I first start the car the steering is heavy for the first minuet or so, also very noisy. Also during this time it judders, feeling as though the fluid was full of air bubbles.

Is this the symptom off a duff steering rack? Or just low fluid?

Sounds just like my symptoms! Before you do ANYTHING, open the bonnet and check the power steering fluid reservoir. This is the black bottle next to the coolant reservoir, it should be full up to the top notch of the dipstick in the lid. Its probably juddering because there are now air bubbles in the hydraulic system, so you’re getting less assistance. GO TO DEALER, NOW!!

From what minitech says (in capitals, he/she must feel strongly about mistreated fuses!) there is a duff seal on the rack, so I may have found the next (dare I say it) recall.

[marksan]

Checked it out today and yep, the P/S fluid reservoir was dry as a bone. Filled it up with ATF (Took 500 ml) then went to my local MINI shop. Booked in for Friday morning for a checkup.

[minitech]

WE HAVE SEEN THE RACK TO AT FAULT.IT LEAKS INTERNALY.ALL OF THE FLUID GOES INTO THE BELLOW BOOTS(DUST BOOTS).I HAVE PERSONALY CHANGED TWO OF THEM FOR THIS REASON.GOOD LUCK...

[marksan]

Cheers mate. The MINI shop will be letting me know as and when they find the fault. Just hope it won't be off the road for too long if anything need changing

[TobesM]

Quote:

Originally posted by minitech
WE HAVE SEEN THE RACK TO AT FAULT.IT LEAKS INTERNALY.ALL OF THE FLUID GOES INTO THE BELLOW BOOTS(DUST BOOTS).I HAVE PERSONALY CHANGED TWO OF THEM FOR THIS REASON.GOOD LUCK...

The last few posts have born out my initial findings. The juddering steering only developed during the first few seconds of presurisation (ie engine running) I think this indicates that its time to drop anything (or indeed everything) and dash to local mini dealer for stern words.

Also explains, thanks to our king of capitals, MiniTech, why there was no oil on the floor! I can only hope that this 'insider' is able to check the other complaints/faults and is able to explain what is really going on. I think the people on these forums tend to winge a little about their cars, when they really should be out having a mini-adventure off along some interesting country lanes! Cars do have problems, and if you spot them early enough, they shouldn't be too dramatic. Hopefully the insight of Minitech might help nip these in the bud!

Thankyou to all,

Toby

[marksan]

Had my car checked out on Friday, and it’s staying in the shop. My steering rack has gone and is flooded with the steering fluid. Only problem is that there are none of the required parts in the UK or Germany!!! Looks like there has been quite a few other MINI’s with this fault.