Many thanks for all the replies, as I say I'm not very mechanically minded but is there any easy way of testing the pump? The steering doesn't making any hissing noises when turning at parking speeds so I assumed the pump is working okay. The main dealer diagnosed the whole rack needs replacing.

I haven't checked the pump, unfortunately I'm not very mechanically minded - is there any easy of testing the pump? There doesn't seem to be any unhealthy noises when turning the steering at low speed, it's just that the steering is very heavy almost as though it's not assisted at all. I'm...

Many thanks for the reply, I've just checked the fluid and it is near the maximum and looks a relatively healthy red colour. I may as well try and get a cheap rack and get it fitted, hopefully it will sort out the problem. Am I right in thinking that all Freelanders from 97 - 00 had the same...

The power steering on my 2000 Freelander 2.5 V6 is very heavy at parking speeds and very light once on the move, it seems to be having completely the opposite of the desired effect of power steering! I also find when I turn the wheel to the left over 40mph there is a pronounced squeaking sound...