Power steering dead in southern Spain

Hi,

Its been a while since I posted, but i need some advice.

I was heading to the Ceuta ferry when my power steering died. The fluid was on the low side so i topped it up, but no help... i think the pump is gone.

symptoms: hard to steer, especially when going slow. happend suddenly when doing 3 point turn. No noise or leaks i can see.

I have a reasonable set of tools but no spare and nowhere to work. I'm at a mcdonalds using wifi right now, will check back as i can.

Any tips, or suggstions for garages near Gibraltar would be appreeciated.

- Andrew

ps. my blog is at Andrew's Amazing Journey | My plans, my travels, and my life

damn, forgkot to mention.... 1997 300tdi 110.

Damn, what a bugger of a place to go wrong! I expect you have checked the most obvious possibility:- the auxiliary belt? It hasn't come away from the power steering pump pulley or fallen slack has it? Whilst the engine is running, is the power steering pump pulley spinning in time with the belt or does it appear to be slipping over the pulley or stopping and startng intermittently? I am not sure whether the pulley is interference fit or on a keyway but it is quite possible that it is simply slipping on the shaft that drives the pump. Another possibility is a blockage or an air lock in the system. If you can, jack the front end of the vehicle up, remove the cap from the top of the power steering fluid reservoir and with the engine running, turn the steering wheel from lock to lock several times as quickly as it will permit, it may fire fluid out of the reservoir so just be weary of this. You may also want to slacken and remove the unions at the power steering box and see whether or not fluid is forced out as you turn the steering wheel - this would support the possibility of there being something obstructing fluid flow through the power steering box. I expect any local garage around Gibalter will be able to see you right but it may not be a quick fix if they are unable to source a pump or a new hose quickly.

I hope you get it sorted,
-Tom

pos said:

Damn, what a bugger of a place to go wrong! I expect you have checked the most obvious possibility:- the auxiliary belt? It hasn't come away from the power steering pump pulley or fallen slack has it? Whilst the engine is running, is the power steering pump pulley spinning in time with the belt or does it appear to be slipping over the pulley or stopping and startng intermittently? I am not sure whether the pulley is interferenc on a keyway but it is quite possible that it is simply slipping on the shaft that drives the pump. Anotherssibility is a blockage or an air lock in the system. If you can, jack the front end of the vehicle up, remove the cap from the top of the power steering fluid reservoir and with the engine running, turn the steering wheel from lock to lock several times as quickly as it will permit, it may fire fluid out of the reservoir so just be weary of this. You may also want to slacken and remove the unions at the power steering box and see whether or not fluid is forced out as you turn the steering wheel - this would support the possibility of there being something obstructing fluid flow through the power steering box. I expect any local garage around Gibalter will be able to see you right but it may not be a quick fix if they are unable to source a pump or a new hose quickly.

I hope you get it sorted,
-Tom

Click to expand...

Not knowing the PAS system I spent some time reading the workshop manual and am thinking the belt might be an issue as its not too old but a little worn (frayed edge). I will head to a camp near a local stealer in Malaga and take a look and try some of what you suggest. Sadly, nothing open today as far as I can see... and the first dealer i went to also servics Porches, so I -think their rate might be a bit high....

I'll post more as i have info (and wifi).

Thanks!

- Andrew

how about English Mobile Mechanics, Marbella, Costa del Sol, Spain - Car mechanics in Spain lol

chris07 said:

how about English Mobile Mechanics, Marbella, Costa del Sol, Spain - Car mechanics in Spain lol

Click to expand...

Damn. Already gone to Malaga to see the dealer on monday morning (assuming I can't sort something tomorrow).

Update:

I am at a camp site in Malaga near the dealer here, where I will take it Monday morning. I will see if I can sort it before then, but don't think I can work on it here... no level areas I'm allowed to park and I don't think they will like me dismantling my car here.

I have poked around and found out the following. There is no fluid leak as the level is still up where I topped it up, so that's not an issue (but maybe a blockage). The belt wear is much worse than I remember it, and I see why... for some reason the drive wheel for the steering pump is out of line with the rest of the drive wheels for that belt, sticking out closer to the front of the car by a good 1/4 inch or so. I think it's been like that for a while as I remember the last belt was pretty torn up as well.

Here is a picture. It was hard to show, but here you can see the belt wear and how the belt is lying on a few different pulleys. I've taken a look as much as I can without breaking out the spanners, but I don't see any reason for it. When I look from the side I see a bare portion of a shaft attached to that wheel. I will look at the parts catalog more closely to see what's up.

I need to take care of some things so I don't starve tomorrow, so I don't think I will be able to do any more on this today. I will post updates though, when I have more.

- Andrew

you will need another pump and belt then if pulley is out of line ,10mm spanner to undo pulley bolts and 4 that hold bracket to aliminum housing ,16mm for high pressure pipe and flat screw driver for hose clip

jamesmartin said:

you will need another pump and belt then if pulley is out of line ,10mm spanner to undo pulley bolts and 4 that hold bracket to aliminum housing ,16mm for high pressure pipe and flat screw driver for hose clip

Click to expand...

Are the pulleys interference fit on a 300tdi? Would you think it is possible that the pulley has moved forward on the shaft, intermittently binding and driving the shaft whilst otherwise rotating redundant?

yes pressed on ,usually pumps knackered when shaft moves forward ,would be unusal for drive flange to become loose and move forward

Finally getting around to sending an update (sorry for the delay).

I ended up wussing out and taking it to a garage (didn't know where to get the parts, nowhere to do the work, and not the right tools to test if it turned out not to be the pump). It was the pump, its changed, and I'm now in Mohammedia (Morocco).

Thanks to everybody for your help!

- Andrew

Glad to hear you got it fixed and the adventure continues