Disco 3 (LR3) Sudden loss of power steering

LR-hobbs · Monday at 16:18

Hello everyone
Due to the weather in England ATM the flooding is awful by me,
So I went through a puddle in a Sainsbury's car park and almost straight after , my power steering essentially disappeared.

Left the car for approximately 4 minutes and back to normal, is this the dreaded power steering pump or a simple glitch.

However I have been noticing strangeness in my steering lately becoming extremely sensitive then very vague and almost feels like it's sticking when going full lock.

I did also notice a small dribble coming from the steering gators.

(Btw My power steering fluid is full)

Cheers

lynall · Monday at 18:05

Water on the belt causing it to slip?
How old is the aux belt? any cracks etc?

One of my rack gaiters has been weeping for 10 yrs now, no issues apart from an egg cup full of oil once a year or so, and a wipe off for the mot.

Do you still have all the under trays fitted?

Graculus · Monday at 18:24

The first concern sounds very much like as already suggested - Water on the belt causing it to slip.
The second concern sounds like it could be related to the flex joint & isolator in the lower steering column.

Of course, it's just internet diagnostics and could be 100% wrong - it may be, for example, a binding track rod end.
If it concerns you, get it checked 'in real life'.

LR-hobbs · Monday at 18:45

lynall said:
Water on the belt causing it to slip?
How old is the aux belt? any cracks etc?

One of my rack gaiters has been weeping for 10 yrs now, no issues apart from an egg cup full of oil once a year or so, and a wipe off for the mot.

Do you still have all the under trays fitted?

I've only had the car 6 months to date so I am unsure how old they are
, and the mot was done in my ownership around 2 months ago and pass with only 2 advisories which have now all been fixed

And yes all under trays are still fitted.

LR-hobbs · Monday at 18:46

Graculus said:
The first concern sounds very much like as already suggested - Water on the belt causing it to slip.
The second concern sounds like it could be related to the flex joint & isolator in the lower steering column.

Of course, it's just internet diagnostics and could be 100% wrong - it may be, for example, a binding track rod end.
If it concerns you, get it checked 'in real life'.

Its unlikely the track rod end as both lower wishbone and both track rod ends are brand new done in the last 6 months

Graculus · Monday at 19:02

Well now you have given us that nugget of salient information, yes, less likely.
As I said, "If it concerns you, get it checked 'in real life'."

LR-hobbs · Monday at 19:07

Graculus said:
Well now you have given us that nugget of salient information, yes, less likely.
As I said, "If it concerns you, get it checked 'in real life'."

Fair enough .

lynall · Monday at 20:42

Could be steering column shaft joints as suggested making the steering feel strange.
Cheap enough @ 30 quid upwards on ebay.

LR-hobbs · Monday at 21:28

lynall said:
Could be steering column shaft joints as suggested making the steering feel strange.
Cheap enough @ 30 quid upwards on ebay.

Well this may sound a dumb question being a discovery 3 , however is that an easy job?

lynall · Monday at 21:54

LR-hobbs said:
Well this may sound a dumb question being a discovery 3 , however is that an easy job?

No idea as mine has been good for the last decade, but I cannot see it being to hard, though access might be!

Few vids on youtube, this is one of them

LR-hobbs · Monday at 22:49

lynall said:
No idea as mine has been good for the last decade, but I cannot see it being to hard, though access might be!

Few vids on youtube, this is one of them

They must have been ****ed when they made this car.

A child would struggle for access in that engine bay.

Graculus · Monday at 22:58

Access is fine, remove transmission shield for access to top bolt, the steering rack pinch bolt is easy to get at through the wheelarch - if a 'first-timer', then remove the wheel.
Takes about 15-20 mins, depending how corroded the joint between upper & lower steering column is.
I'd suggest getting an OEM part, the rubber isolator on the Chinese copies is too flexible and will happily try and throw you into a ditch - or the opposite carriageway.... - if indeed the lower steering column is the causal part.

lynall · 2025-01-07T03:57:38+0000

LR-hobbs said:
They must have been ****ed when they made this car.

A child would struggle for access in that engine bay.

Wait until you have to do the a/c pump!

LR-hobbs · 2025-01-07T07:16:46+0000

lynall said:
Wait until you have to do the a/c pump!

I would just scrap the car

Disco 3 (LR3) Sudden loss of power steering

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