Horrible noise when turn right at full lock - have PAS

Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:15 pm

Hi all,

I'm really going from memory here as I haven't driven my car for a good month or so. Forgive me if a bit vague...

Every time I turn the wheel full lock to the right when moving the most terrible noise sounds. Like metal teeth skipping, though dont jump to that kind of conclusion straight off.

I wonder if anyone has heard such a thing before? I know what power steering sounds like and can envisage this has something to with the wheel turned too far?

Thoughts?

thanks
skip

Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:17 pm

does the system definately have fluid in it? is it only when you turn right?

Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:18 pm

pumps on way out i'd say

Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:32 pm

is the belt tight enough?

Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:38 pm

Cook318IS wrote:does the system definately have fluid in it? is it only when you turn right?

It has half the fluid in it. Not entirely sure it is right lock only. Would bet on it though

leeparkes wrote:is the belt tight enough?

Sorry, wheres the belt?

As you may or may not know this car was standing many years. Do you reckon I should bleed the PAS before making decisions on whether somethings broken or not?

Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:45 pm

skipunda wrote:
Cook318IS wrote:does the system definately have fluid in it? is it only when you turn right?
It has half the fluid in it. Not entirely sure it is right lock only. Would bet on it though

leeparkes wrote:is the belt tight enough?
Sorry, wheres the belt?

As you may or may not know this car was standing many years. Do you reckon I should bleed the PAS before making decisions on whether somethings broken or not?

drain the fluid and clean the little gauze filter in the pas fluid bottle

pas belt is at front of engine passenger side look for a small pump with hoses coming from the pas bottle and rack to id the pump

Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:49 pm

dazleeds wrote: drain the fluid and clean the little gauze filter in the pas fluid bottle

pas belt is at front of engine passenger side look for a small pump with hoses coming from the pas bottle and rack to id the pump

Ok, great..

Is the PAS pump quite generic accross the E30 range? See this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :middle:uk

Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:53 pm

theyre similar but some are a bit different to others as are some of the brackets

i never thought they would be different but have changed a few with different brackets etc

cant remember if i just used my brackets tho or if i had to get the right pump

Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:13 am

skipunda wrote:
Cook318IS wrote:does the system definately have fluid in it? is it only when you turn right?
It has half the fluid in it.

If this means that the bottle is only half full, then that's probably a good part of your problem - the pump is drawing air in and cavitating.
Correct fluid level is shown on a dipstick attached to the lid.
A certain amount of noise at full lock is normal, as the pressure in the system increases to that of the relief valve, and it states in the car's handbook that full lock should not be maintained for more than a few seconds.
Since you don't know where the belt is, I assume you don't know too much about what goes on under the bonnet of cars, so I suspect the fluid might not have been changed too recently either.
The fluid should be pink. If it resembles grey aluminium paint, then get it flushed and changed, ASAP. Chances are that the pump will then be OK.

Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:38 pm

Where is the relief valve?

Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:19 pm

I removed my pump and I have a bottle of the oil you need.. if you want to replace it which isnt difficult send me a PM and I'll send you the bits for not very much...

Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:32 pm

one other consideration if the above doesn't do the job...

when i had my e30 i had the same problem - didn't manage to fix it but here was my post
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

there's a mention of track rods in there - i know that when i had a tyre replaced they couldn't do the tracking because my tracking rods were stuck/rusting and needed replacing. Might be something to look into as well.

hope this helps

Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:35 pm

skipunda wrote:when moving the most terrible noise sounds. Like metal teeth skipping,
skip

Is it only when moving ? Could just be the wheel rubbing ? Are they the correct wheels etc.

Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:28 pm

if it's a metal grunching noise and the wheel is difficult to turn then it's more likely the rack itself. Which has probably happened due to low/manky fluid level for too long.

Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:09 pm

12345kevin wrote:
skipunda wrote:when moving the most terrible noise sounds. Like metal teeth skipping,
skip
Is it only when moving ? Could just be the wheel rubbing ? Are they the correct wheels etc.

I was going to ask if it was standard as well. Mine were rubbing on full lock. Turns out the Hartge wheels on mine are the wong offset and coupled with a chunky H&R ARB they just caught on full lock. As it was an MOT fail I had to revert back to a standard ARB.

However I have a second set of Hartge's with the correct offset but need to get them refubed before I can fit them and put the H&R ARB back on.