Another question- Power steering this time!

[Topdownman]

I have been having trouble with my P/S (and tachometer) not working until some miles each morning.

I noticed yesterday that there appeared to be a leak from the pipe coming down from the reservoir. I have moved the toyota clip out of the way and put a jubilee clip on instead to hopefully stop the leak.

As the car is parked on more level ground than normal, I can now see that the level is on the minimum.

So, heres the question, I have in the cupboard a bottle of Ravenol E-PST

https://www.ravenol-direct.uk/ravenol-e-psf-power-steering-fluid-1-litre.html

Is it OK to top up with this?

[SV-3]

I have been having trouble with my P/S (and tachometer) not working until some miles each morning.

I noticed yesterday that there appeared to be a leak from the pipe coming down from the reservoir. I have moved the toyota clip out of the way and put a jubilee clip on instead to hopefully stop the leak.

As the car is parked on more level ground than normal, I can now see that the level is on the minimum.

So, heres the question, I have in the cupboard a bottle of Ravenol E-PST

https://www.ravenol-direct.uk/ravenol-e-psf-power-steering-fluid-1-litre.html

Is it OK to top up with this?

Did you mean E-PSF? (E-PSF is equivalent to Toyota EH)

[Topdownman]

Yes, that was just my sausage fingers!

E-PSF.

[SV-3]

Yes, that was just my sausage fingers!

E-PSF.

Should be fine then.

[Carolyn]

Have you, at some point, had problems with roof drainage/water under the bins?  I ask because your electrics problem sounds like a slightly corroded connection.

[Topdownman]

Have you, at some point, had problems with roof drainage/water under the bins?  I ask because your electrics problem sounds like a slightly corroded connection.

Yes, I have had water leaking in towards the back of the passenger side.



Any particular connection I should be checking?

[Carolyn]

I would open every connector and spray with contact cleaner.

[Topdownman]

Went to take out the bins last night to discover this on the drivers side;



I have a swansea roof and no parcel shelf so not sure if this is somehow causing porblems as the bottom of the roof flaps would normally be press-studded onto the parcel shelf creating a pocket?

I undid all the electrical connectors I could see and reconnected them and found a couple of wires that may have been rubbing through so put some tape on those.

Just waiting for the wadding to dry before being able to put it back together for the moment of truth to see whether anything I have done over the last 2 days has made any difference!

[paulj]

You mentioned the car being more level than usual. Bear in mind they often leak more facing uphill. Just a thought

[Call the midlife!]

Went to take out the bins last night to discover this on the drivers side;



I have a swansea roof and no parcel shelf so not sure if this is somehow causing porblems as the bottom of the roof flaps would normally be press-studded onto the parcel shelf creating a pocket?

I undid all the electrical connectors I could see and reconnected them and found a couple of wires that may have been rubbing through so put some tape on those.

Just waiting for the wadding to dry before being able to put it back together for the moment of truth to see whether anything I have done over the last 2 days has made any difference!

Moist...

[Topdownman]

I do normally park at home pointing downhill slightly. I did turn it around so do the oil change but I didnt think it had rained since then.

Going to make camping interesting or going to need some waterproof bags to put all my shizzle in!

Its all back together so having a bit of lunch then a test drive.

Going to hard to drive with my fingers crossed....

[tricky1138]

You mentioned the car being more level than usual. Bear in mind they often leak more facing uphill. Just a thought

I thought it was the other way round?

The theory behind it us that the car was designed to be driven forwards so if it was raining the water would stream from front to back, so if you parked front up the same principles apply to it raining.

[Topdownman]

All I know is that I normally park "downhill" and have never had water in the bins before!

The drains are at the low front end arent they? (I have a swansea roof so not sure if they are different) plus when you are driving, I guess the speed stops a lot of the water draining down?

Just got back from a 30 mile drive. The power steering was working straightaway, as was the rev counter.

I had syphoned off about 200 ml out of the P/S reservoir and topped up with the Ravenol. Hopefully that was the issue, the weeping leading to a loss of fluid. I imagine it was working once the fluid was hot and expanded after drving hence why it worked after stopping for 10 mins after driving 50 miles or so.

Not sure what the issue was with the rev counter as I did lots of little things over the last couple of days.

Happy days!

[Carolyn]

All I know is that I normally park "downhill" and have never had water in the bins before!

The drains are at the low front end arent they? (I have a swansea roof so not sure if they are different) plus when you are driving, I guess the speed stops a lot of the water draining down?

Just got back from a 30 mile drive. The power steering was working straightaway, as was the rev counter.

I had syphoned off about 200 ml out of the P/S reservoir and topped up with the Ravenol. Hopefully that was the issue, the weeping leading to a loss of fluid. I imagine it was working once the fluid was hot and expanded after drving hence why it worked after stopping for 10 mins after driving 50 miles or so.

Not sure what the issue was with the rev counter as I did lots of little things over the last couple of days.

Happy days!

You cleaned the connectors.  The ECU has to tell the power steering pump to run, and probably uses the same signal as the tacho (ignition, I believe).  Both were part of the same issue.

[Topdownman]

Thanks to everyone for their input with my recent problems.

Much appreciated!

[Gaz mr-s]

@Topdownman    When you had the bins out did you do any maintenance to the rubber drains in the bottom?

[Topdownman]

@Topdownman    When you had the bins out did you do any maintenance to the rubber drains in the bottom?

Nothing to the inside. I did take the scoops off and clean the drain flaps just in case.

[Gaz mr-s]

Nothing to the inside. I did take the scoops off and clean the drain flaps just in case.

I'm surprised no-one else above said anything previously. The round rubber things in the metal are drains. They are about 6 inches long & very narrow. They silt up & get blocked, & that's why your bin area has been full of water. You can use a cable tie to clear them, or yank them out & get rid of them.

I think they are there as a standby if the drain bags have a fault, but sitting proud like they do they allow a quantity of water to lie in there.

I have a minor leak with my drains, bag onto pipe.  So I was getting water lying there. Get rid of the rubbers & the water fully empties.  They've been out for over a year.


As a by-the-by.... did your Ford dust boots work out?

[Topdownman]

I havent really got my head around how the roof, bags etc work and my roof has been replaced as well so non-standard. I put a screwdriver under the flaps and up the end of the drain but they didnt seem to be blocked as far as I could tell.

As water is still getting in though, I will need to look into this more.

Not done anything with the suspension yet as the springs are on order. The ford boots and stops certainly fit on and I think would work but I may well still get oem ones even thought they are 3 times the price.

[paulj]

You mentioned the car being more level than usual. Bear in mind they often leak more facing uphill. Just a thought

I thought it was the other way round?

The theory behind it us that the car was designed to be driven forwards so if it was raining the water would stream from front to back, so if you parked front up the same principles apply to it raining.

Correct - DOWNHILL is the leaky way (moment of madness on my part!)