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| jonohall |
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Hey guys,
Woke up this morning, started the car (EL falcon) and the steering is as heavy as. power steering is dead. no leaks. still has plenty of fluid. So, my guess is a dead pump? Any other possibilities to check before buying a new pump? How about the power steering pressure switch? - where is it on an EL? Anyone got a second hand pump in the Brisbane area I can pick up on the cheap? And, what is the process for replacing the pump? remove belt, bracket, hoses and swap em over? Looks pretty straight forward. cheers |
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| tony.martin11 |
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have you checked the hoses going to the steering rack? one could be blocked
_________________ BANNED USER |
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| jonohall |
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Been reading around the forums and seems it can be a few things so I want to diagnose it first.
How can I test the pump? Can I pull the low pressure hose and see if oil comes spurting out of it when the engine is on and at the same time feed fluid in the top? If ya open the filler cap on the pump while the engine is on does it spray out oil everywhere or not? Someone was telling me about a pressure control valve in the pump itself? How do I test that? If that's broken does the pump not work? How about the pressure switch in the rack? How do I test that? If that's broken will the power steering not work? I've read about a lot of failed pressure switches dumping fluid all over the ground, but mine doesn't leak at all. The pump has been whining and groaning for as long as I can remember lol, so I want to start there I reckon. So, whats the best way to test the pump? I don't have a pressure tester. thanks in advance |
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| phongus |
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Reminds of what happened to mine.
My steering started to get heavy over time and once in a while in the mornings the power steering would be dead until i give the engine a big rev. There is no easy way of checking it, but it is much easier with at least one other person to help you out. You can remove the return line and hold the hose into clean container...big enough to hold at least 1L of fluid. Get a mate to turn the car over and let the engine run, fluid should start flowing...if not you have a blockage or damaged pump. If it isn't flowing, get a mate to "goose" the throttle and hope to see some flow. If there is still no flow...then it could be anything really. If there is flow, you could have a small blockage somewhere...make sure you turn the engine off when the pump is out of fluid. You can do this with the lid off. I think the cheapest approach would be to get a new pressure switch and see if it fixes it. It's mostly trial an error I'm afraid.
_________________ phongus = Post whore 2006 |
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| 87SIlude |
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When my switch broke it leaked everywhere and smoked up and stank.
So I doubt its that. When you turn the steeringwheel do the revs drop right down? Because if the pumps not working it shouldn't drop the revs really should it. Not sure on this. Does it make noisewhen you turn the wheel. Or just no powersteer at all. |
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| 89.SVO |
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Age: 35 Posts: 3382 Joined: 11th Mar 2008 Ride: EA SVO, AU2, Toyota Crown Location: Bendigo |
if it's been noisy for ages just change the pump. it'll be that
_________________ Daily driver: 2010 Toyota Crown hybrid 3.5L V6 hybrid. 254kw. |
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| haydene |
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It could be a number of things, pump seals, pressure valve in the pump, hoses blocked, seals inside the rack could be stuffed. I'm sure there's something else that I've forgotten
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| jonohall |
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cheers for all replies.
Nah no drop in revs. no sound from pump. When i get an opportunity I'll disconnect the return hose and turn her on and see if its pumping. If not, I'll look for a blockage in the pump filter and hoses. If no blockage I'll get a new pump I reckon... If the pressure switch is buggered, the pump should still do its thing right? Its a mechanical device with no electrical cut out or anything so it should pump regardless? Yeah when I say noisy - I just thought it was normal. not overly loud or anything but you can here it groaning when ya turn. |
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| jonohall |
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87SIlude wrote: When my switch broke it leaked everywhere and smoked up and stank. So I doubt its that. When you turn the steeringwheel do the revs drop right down? Because if the pumps not working it shouldn't drop the revs really should it. Not sure on this. Does it make noisewhen you turn the wheel. Or just no powersteer at all. Yeah no power steering at all at the moment. |
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| 87SIlude |
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My steering is noisey too. I think they all are.
When my switch failed she still turned easy. Just p****d fluid everywhere. is the Powersteering belt still there. A mate lost his and didn't notice. Got a new pump. Went to put it in a ohshivers somethings missing here. Haha Yea if its not making noise and not getting any powersteer one would assume the pump. Cos if it was just blocked you'd still get some assistance and noise from it. |
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| phongus |
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87SIlude wrote: My steering is noisey too. I think they all are. When my switch failed she still turned easy. Just p****d fluid everywhere. is the Powersteering belt still there. A mate lost his and didn't notice. Got a new pump. Went to put it in a ohshivers somethings missing here. Haha Yea if its not making noise and not getting any powersteer one would assume the pump. Cos if it was just blocked you'd still get some assistance and noise from it. EL's run a single belt for all accessories. jonohall - Another thing that might be blocked is the oil cooler for the power steering system. I checked this by blowing down the return hose and seeing if it came out of the steering rack (at this point the high pressure hose was already off). Not sure how hard or easy it was meant to come out, but when I blew into it, you could see the oil coming out of the inlet of the rack. I guess you can also remove the low pressure hose from rack and see if it comes out in reverse. good luck with it.
_________________ phongus = Post whore 2006 |
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| 87SIlude |
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My bad. Didn't realise you were driving a ef/el.
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| jonohall |
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thanks guys. yeah single belt and she's a new one so no probs there and no loss of fluid at all. I should have enough info to diagnose the prob. My money is on the pump. Anyone got one for sale in the brissy area?
Now, just gotta find time to get under her. Might have to wait til the weekend unfortunately. Got the gf driving me around  I will let ya all know how I go...for future reference. |
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| 87SIlude |
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Hit up the forsale section and look for someone wrecking a ef in qld.
Should be a few there. |
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| jonohall |
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Hey guys. Started her up to move her to the garage and guess what....power steering is back!
Thought I better change the fluid anyways since I've neglected it. So did that. Still works and the revs pick up a bit when they need to so all good it appears. The pump still whines away - not sure if its louder or if I am just listening more closely now. I didn't seem to get as much fluid in as I got out, despite bleeding it with engine on by turning it lock to lock. So, I'm not sure why this was the case. Also guys, I'm unsure of what fluid I was supposed to be using. I used Dexron 3 as I had in earlier E series, but it seems it changed specs for the EL???? Which fluid should I be using? If I got it wrong, I'll circulate it for a bit and dump it again and refill with the correct stuff. So, I guess I just wait and see if it dies again... |
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