Power steering turining left on start up

[jonnie]

Got a strange one on a friends E30.

Its got an e36 rack etc and for some reason when you start it up, it immediately turns itself all the way left.

Any one got any ideas why it would be doing this or seen this before?

[votivequagmire]

Never come across that myself personally.
So when you start the car and it's running, the steering wheel turns itself around until the wheels reach the left extremity?
I'm racking my brain (no pun intended) but I cannot for the life of me work out how that is happening sorry.
Have you tried to stop it by holding the wheel? Is there much pressure involved?

[Brianmoooore]

New one on me as well, but it can only be a fault in the rack itself, probably with the valves in the section where the steering shaft projects from. Either way, a replacement rack should cure it, but flush out the rest of the system while it's out.

[wellard]

In over thirty years in the motor trade I've only seen this once on a wolesely six.as Brian said above it's a fault in the valve block in the rack and a replacement rack is the only cure.

[HairyScreech]

Was just going to say it can only be a sticking valve in the rack, might be worth trying a couple of oil changes on the rack to try clearing it out before going all the way and changing it.
Whats your fluid like? Milky?
Its pretty uncommon, only really comes with contamination/dirt.

If you do change the rack go for a purple tag e46 one if you want it to feel even sharper or another e36 one if you prefer the more relaxed e36 steering feel.