Freelander 1 Noisy power steering

Robfr · Jul 31, 2018

I have a 2002 Td4 . Now it has acquired a hissing, rasping noise when the steering wheel is on full lock, more so to the right than the left. I have put the front of the car up on axle stands and put it on full lock with the engine running. The hydraulic hose from the steering box to the pump expands and the fluid in the reservoir gurgles violently. Any ideas?
Rob

Skinny Mike · Jul 31, 2018

How old is the fluid?
Mike

Madmustang · Aug 1, 2018

Is there any fluid leaking out?

Robfr · Aug 1, 2018

Skinny Mike said:
How old is the fluid?
Mike

Madmustang said:
Is there any fluid leaking out?

No leaks

Robfr · Aug 1, 2018

The fluid is original.

Skinny Mike · Aug 1, 2018

Well the fluid needs replacing then. That always makes the pump noisy.
Get a big syringe and suck fluid out to 1cm from the base of the reservoir, then put new in. Turn the wheel lock to lock a couple of times and repeat the fluid change 5 or 6 times.
Do this first, see if it solves the issue. If not you may need to look at the hoses etc.
Mike

Nodge68 · Aug 1, 2018

Change the fluid as Skinny Mike said. The noise is going to be air that is being drawn in. The fluid contains an anti-foam additive that's likely degraded over the last 16 years. PS fluid should really be changed at 60K miles or 6 years intervals, so if it's original, it's well over due a change.

There will always be some noise if the steering is held against the lock, as the pump's pressure regulator valve is opening. Any air in the system described above makes the noise sound far worse.

Robfr · Oct 16, 2018

Robfr said:
No leaks

Silly question! Should the level of the power steering fluid rise and fall from lock to lock?

Skinny Mike · Oct 16, 2018

Not by a noticeable amount. There will be a slight variation as the fluid pumps around the system, but it shouldn't rise and fall. This would indicate a failing pipe or pump.
Mike

Robfr · Oct 17, 2018

Thanks for your response. There are certainly no leaks in the pipe work, so I guess I will start with a pump replacement as the steering has become really heavy. Incidentally I have replaced the power steering fluid. I saw a video on YouTube showing that the fluid container filter can become faulty, thus breaking up and causing similar problems. Have you any experience of that? Rob

Madmustang · Oct 18, 2018

Does it make a screaching sound when you turn the wheel?

Robfr · Oct 18, 2018

At the beginning when it first became heavy, yes it did make that sort of noise. However, not now.

Madmustang · Oct 18, 2018

There could still be air trapped in the system I would do a purge first before buying a new pump

Freelander 1 Noisy power steering

Robfr

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Skinny Mike

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Madmustang

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Robfr

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Robfr

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Skinny Mike

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Nodge68

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Robfr

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Skinny Mike

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Robfr

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Madmustang

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Robfr

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Madmustang

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