hi, guys i have had my car back.
since the garage have had my car, the steering is heavy and seems like the power steering kicks in sometimes when turning the corners..
i checked the pressure and left is 34 and right is 35.. is that about right?
also what could this be? they did toe is from the front wheels, have they knocked around with the alignment.?
First of all, read your manual, or at least look at the sticker inside the glovebox, and learn something about your car that could very well save your life. Your front tyre pressures are far to high....
Sort your pressures out, and then see how it feels.
well if i lower the pressures, then the steering would be even more heavier wouldnt it? must not be the pressures then.. must need aligning.
Quote from: "leon_in_uk"must not be the pressures then.. must need aligning.
s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
Check. The. Pressures...How do you expect he car to handle or feel right when the front tyres are 30% over-pressure?
oops just checked its meant to be 26....
i will sort that out later, but i think it might be the alignment still
or power steering pump failure?
Quote from: "leon_in_uk"oops just checked its meant to be 26....
i will sort that out later, but i think it might be the alignment still
You have had your car how long and you only just seen what the pressures should be s:shock: :shock: s:shock: .... if your power steering pump has gone you are looking at around £200 inc labour to get it fixed if you get a second hand one...£1K for a new one from Mr T
Quote from: "edward.carter"or power steering pump failure?
Could be.... But, when fault findng on any system, always investigate the statistically most likely and dazzlingly obvious possible causes first. Only then do you investigate further
Put it this way, if the engine wont start, do you first;
a) Replace the engine, or
b) check you havent run out of petrol?
jesus.. more money..........
its only been like this since the bloke who sold me the engine has had my car. im gonna get him to have a look at it!!
it cant be power steering pump, i have tried turning the steering wheel when the car is stationary and the wheels turn fine. as if the pump is working...
just when driving, and turning the wheel slightly seems like for a bit its light then heavy and light and heavy...
like the wheels are flat...
well as grant says first check the obvious
if tyre pressure don't fix it, perhaps there is a loose connection on the wiring for teh PS pump, and this is why it could be intermittently on.
you definately need a plan of action to elimate step by step
the scatter gun approach will just confuse the issue
Quote from: "leon_in_uk"...
just when driving, and turning the wheel slightly seems like for a bit its light then heavy and light and heavy...
like the wheels are flat...
Sounds just like my recent problem. See my post about 'Square' stearing when cold.
Do the tire pressures first though. Costs nothing and if it doesn't work at least your tires will be at the right pressures!
Simon
tyre pressures are now fine. and the problem is the same, i dont even think the power steering is on. so must be the steering system!!
since the car was on a toe truck with the front wheels were lifted off the floor, i think that might be the problem..
why?
maybe he has knocked the PS wires, or knocked something out of place.
it was fine the last time i had my car...
from simons thread: Have you check the level of the power steering fluid? could be either its low or you've got an air bubble in the system?
m http://mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php? ... ering+cold (http://mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=11174&highlight=square+steering+cold) m
Asking the glaringly obvious here - does the Power Steering light come on on the dash?
nope
Now that you've confirmed your tyre pressures, I would go check out your power steering fluid (See simon_c's post) and I would also check the fuse for the power steering.
Richie
fluid checked and that is fine, and no air came out either..
the PS is on when the car is stationary. so wont be the fuse...
just heavy when driving.
After a storming result on the springs you bought s:P :P s:P , remember to get them fitted before you get the wheels aligned.
You don't want to have to do it twice!
Simon
will do.. im gonna get the alignment looked at when the engine is fitted, to see what the salvage bloke has done.
the idiot..
Ahh the irony..
Quote from: "Slurpy J"Ahh the irony..
s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
this is strange...
last night for a ten minute drive and this morning for a 5 minute drive the turning and power steering was fine...
just like normal steering..
i dont understand.. could be that the battery was flat a couple of days ago, and did a big journey yesterday could it? (the alternator recharging the battery)
i dunno. but strange
alls well that ends well then s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
what and you would just leave it at that?,
im gonna get it checked over next week anyway...
Quote from: "leon_in_uk"what and you would just leave it at that?,
TBH, yes, its a car not a plane and as long as you've checked the tyres and oils then yes drive it for a bit and see what happens, if it does fail again then you can still drive it remember, it'll just be very heavy but it'll still get you home
cool beans...
right guys. got my car back, grunts more etc. so its fine but this problem is worse now i have lowered it...
the steering noise still comes on so its working fine just heavy at times!!
what can this be, its doing my head in...
Spookliy enough, mine started doing this again this morning.
When I drove home, after the car had sat in the sun for a day, the steering was fine, back to normal, until about half way back home when it went really heavy and 'square' again.
Well, the 70K service is coming up so I'll get whoever does it to have a look.
Simon
it changes every bloody day...
today when i started her up. the steering was very very heavy when slightly turning the wheel and fine after that...
the bloke at toyota drove my car and said it seemed fine to him, especially after lowering it... i think its quite dangerous, when the steering is altered in different angles......
do i need alignment? or will i need a special alignment been as its been lowered!!
thanks
With how low yours has been lowered, I reckon a 4-wheel laser alignment is a must.
what sort of cost will that involve mate?
50-60 quid ? ?
nice one, ta
I am not sure if this is the case (and I am sure someone will know),but I think I read/heard/imagined?? that the steering is meant to be heavier at higher speed (so its light for parking and more stable for driving).If this is the case then maybe something to do with this system is going wrong.I could be completely wrong though s:shock: :shock: s:shock: s:? :? s:? s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
could be mate. not sure if this is the problem. im gonna get it laser aligned..
4 wheel alignment, £24.95... sorted. taking it down tonight to see if that cures my heavy steering problem...
cheers guys
bet it's not a proper alignement for £24
i told them its lowered and they said, 4 wheel alignment for £24.95... the same price as kwik fit....
Just make sure they align it to some sort of recommended MR2 settings, not a generic 'neutral' set up for 15 year old mini cabbing Vauxhall Carltons s:D :D s:D
i will make them do the best job poss. although they should know its lowered and should do all the right work shouldnt they?
if that dont sort my problem then its to toyota but a big price. oh well the car still drives fine.
I dunno??? I mean, what are the 'correct' geometry settings for a car lowered that much???
The fact it drives well is a good thing though s:D :D s:D just keep an eye on tyres for strange wear patterns
will do, also will let philster know what the problem was if it is sorted.
guys the car was too low to fit on the ramp, so cant have the laser done..
think im just gonna keep an eye on wear
just how low is[/b] you car?!? s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
I had my mk2 turbo turned down for the same reason, they couldnt fit on the equipment.
very low. i would say about as low as an elise....
Just an update on mine.
After getting new tyres and getting them fitted on the right axle s:shock: :shock: s:shock: I still had the problem, although it was less noticeable. had a mooch around under the fronnet and thought the universal joint on the end of the steering column looked a little rusty.
Gave it a good spray with PlusGas clone, left it for a bit and bingo. All back to normal.
s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Not sure how long it will last but I am getting SP to check it at the same time as the service (next Tuesday) and maybe look into getting the joint replaced.
So Leon, give it a spray and see if it works for you!
Simon
Quote from: "SimonC_Here"Just an update on mine.
After getting new tyres and getting them fitted on the right axle s:shock: :shock: s:shock: I still had the problem, although it was less noticeable. had a mooch around under the fronnet and thought the universal joint on the end of the steering column looked a little rusty.
Gave it a good spray with PlusGas clone, left it for a bit and bingo. All back to normal.
s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Not sure how long it will last but I am getting SP to check it at the same time as the service (next Tuesday) and maybe look into getting the joint replaced.
So Leon, give it a spray and see if it works for you!
Simon
rather than something being seized, it may have been down to poor contact somewhere in this area. Did you notice if there are any electrical contacts around here? If so, I'd give them a good strip down and clean up.
Couldn't see anything electrical although I am sure there must be. The guy in the garage said he had seen the same problem on another car....an acient fiesta....which doesn't have the PS.
Oh well, I'm happy at the moment! Now to try to get my insurance company to let me borrow SP's TTET next week!
Simon
Quote from: "SimonC_Here"Just an update on mine.
After getting new tyres and getting them fitted on the right axle s:shock: :shock: s:shock: I still had the problem, although it was less noticeable. had a mooch around under the fronnet and thought the universal joint on the end of the steering column looked a little rusty.
Gave it a good spray with PlusGas clone, left it for a bit and bingo. All back to normal.
s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Not sure how long it will last but I am getting SP to check it at the same time as the service (next Tuesday) and maybe look into getting the joint replaced.
So Leon, give it a spray and see if it works for you!
Simon
cheers simon, will do... only thing is!! what is the front axel? so i take the plastic cover off and where do i spray? also will wd40 do it?
Quote from: "leon_in_uk"Quote from: "SimonC_Here"Just an update on mine.
After getting new tyres and getting them fitted on the right axle s:shock: :shock: s:shock: I still had the problem, although it was less noticeable. had a mooch around under the fronnet and thought the universal joint on the end of the steering column looked a little rusty.
Gave it a good spray with PlusGas clone, left it for a bit and bingo. All back to normal.
s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Not sure how long it will last but I am getting SP to check it at the same time as the service (next Tuesday) and maybe look into getting the joint replaced.
So Leon, give it a spray and see if it works for you!
Simon
cheers simon, will do... only thing is!! what is the front axel? so i take the plastic cover off and where do i spray? also will wd40 do it?
No, front universal joint.
Lift up the bonnet (the bit in front of you while you drive as opposed to the bit covering the engine bay)
Take off the plastics, press down in the centre of the studs and then lift up to get them out.
Just to the right of the power steering fluid and to the left of the storage continer you can see a universal joint.
Spray that.
I won't bother with wd40 although if it's the only thing you've got then try it, the stuff I used was to free up rusty joints.
Simon
got ya, know exactly where it is, thanks i will give it a try...
Got a couple of pics if you need them, can't get to my webspace to upload them though. If you want them PM me.
Simon
If its a roadster, check the strut top bearings........
they have a nasty habit of siezeing, then as you turn the steering the spring unwinds, then the bearing gives causing the steering to jump(usually along with a clunk noise), and so-on, and so-on
its hard to spot, and wont show a fault once the car is lifted off the ground, or put on alignment gauges.
usually needs front strut tops and spring isolators to cure. s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
right then... Thanks to Simon C my steering is back to normal...
the joint may of been rusty. i sprayed wd40 on it last night before i went poker. lol and drove this morning, the steering is as light as a feather..
thanks for the pics simon. a good old spray and thats it..