Noisey power steering on 318i 1990

Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:10 pm

Hi,
I've got a 1990 318i and the power steering has got a nasty whine to it. It's been there since I got the car a while ago but it's getting louder as time goes on. Also on hard lock the car tries to stall if you don't give it a lot of revs (although I think that might be down to the idle control valve)

Any ideas what the whining noise could be? I just had a look at the PAS reservoir (on the nearside of the engine bay) and it looks ok to me fluid-wise!

Cheers

Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:21 pm

Check the PAS belt - look down the the passanger side inner wing in the engine bay and you should see the alternator + it's belt, below the alternator is the PAS pump - got the pipe work runnming to it from the reservoir.

My guess is the belt is loose on it hense the squealing - probably even worse on full lock.

You'll need a 13mm spanner and a 19mm spanner - you'll see the adjuster on top of the pump - don't go to mad with it as it's really easy to shread the teeth on the adjustment rail.

Neil.

Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:38 pm

It's not a squeal. I had a squealing fan belt on one of my old cars and it sounds nothing like that

Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:45 pm

Squeal is the pump. Might benefit from a fluid change. As Nelly says though, it's belt may be loose as well.

Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:25 pm

Hi As above I had similar prob. on my 316i was fearing all sorts of probs. turned out slack belt.

Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:55 am

I have had the same problem on my 1990 318i. I have tensioned the belt, and flushed the PAS fluid and put new fluid in, and it makes almost like a moaning / groaning noise when turning at low speed and idle. The noise can sometimes be heard when driving...

Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:29 am

Yup same sort of symptoms as me. Bit disconcerting I think!

Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:35 pm

Im having this very same problem, mine s clear though, all the power steering fluid is leaking from the steering rack into the dust covers on the end of the rack and then coming out of the dust cover. I suggest checking the power steering fluid (im sure you already have) then check the dust caps on each side of the rack to see if these are covered in fluid.

I have bought a replacement rack now, jst cant face fitting just yet.

Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:03 pm

Wookie wrote:I have had the same problem on my 1990 318i. I have tensioned the belt, and flushed the PAS fluid and put new fluid in, and it makes almost like a moaning / groaning noise when turning at low speed and idle. The noise can sometimes be heard when driving...

Having the same bother with my 327i, groaning that can sometimes be felt as a vibration through the car especially when hot

I've 'listened' to the pump with a long screwdriver handle to the ear and it's definately the pump groaning.

A ZF recon pump is Ã‚£85 from GSF, might visit a scrappy at the weekend though.

Cheers,

Iain T

Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:41 pm

Does anyone have any more info on this issue as i have the exact same problem as the poster on my 93' 318?

The power steering seems to break like a torque wrench when going round sweeping curves

and used to squeal on full lock both ways. I replaced the steering pump and found the fluid was jet black. After tightening everything back up and filling up with new fluid i realized that the pump was fully stopping on full lock and the belt slips (if it's tight then it tries to stall the engine).

Does anyone know what can cause this?

Cheers
Robin

Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:14 pm

i have a good 318i p/s pump for sale if your interested,,,pm me

Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:16 pm

oh and a rack and all the pipes

Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:03 pm

Cheers magpie if it comes to it i may be needing the rack. I have no reason to believe the pump i installed is faulty but i'd like to know a bit more about the issue if i can first. I'll bare you in mind. How much for the rack posted?