Omega Owners Forum - Intermittent steering issue

kcl

Senior Member

Offline

Posts: 696
Finland
Gender: male

Drives: 2002 Opel Omega 2,6 Caravan Auto

Intermittent steering issue
26. Aug 2011 at 08:43

Happens mostly/only when cold, just after starting. When reversing from yard to road I turn all to the right and all seems normal, then put it on drive and turn all to the left and THEN there is a "blind spot" in steering. Feels like power assistance suddenly stops and then continues as normal Huh

This is not normal. No other problems with steering, all joints seem to be ok, fluid level ok, most of the fluid has been changed (had the hose off in the winter and reservoir filled after that), when warm it goes from lock to lock without blinds. No play in steering (other than normal to the structure, IMHO rack-and-pinion is the only good steering Lips Sealed

) Any ideas what to check?

Back to top

IP Logged

freecall666 Senior Member Offline fun for all, get with the program Posts: 656 looking over your shoulder Gender: Drives: 2.0I polar sea blue	Re: Intermittent steering issue Reply #1 - 26. Aug 2011 at 09:16 if steering fine check the suspension strut at top, has similar problem on another car years ago the rubber had gone, found out when pushing on the corner and looking at them.
Back to top	doit your self (DIY) IP Logged

tunnie

Over Active Poster

Offline

Posts: 22520
London, W3
Gender: male

Drives: 2.2 CD (LPG'd) & BMW R1200 GS

Re: Intermittent steering issue
Reply #2 - 26. Aug 2011 at 09:20

kcl wrote on 26. Aug 2011 at 08:43:

Happens mostly/only when cold, just after starting. When reversing from yard to road I turn all to the right and all seems normal, then put it on drive and turn all to the left and THEN there is a "blind spot" in steering. Feels like power assistance suddenly stops and then continues as normal Huh

This is not normal. No other problems with steering, all joints seem to be ok, fluid level ok, most of the fluid has been changed (had the hose off in the winter and reservoir filled after that), when warm it goes from lock to lock without blinds. No play in steering (other than normal to the structure, IMHO rack-and-pinion is the only good steering Lips Sealed

) Any ideas what to check?

Sounds like a tired steering pump to me, I assuming you have an auto? Its harder to do, but keep the revs up when you do your usual reverse out.

Left foot on brake, right foot on the gas. Use brake like a clutch, try and keep the revs higher than just idle. (2 to 3k rpm)

See if it does it then Thumbs Up!

Back to top

« Last Edit: 26. Aug 2011 at 09:20 by tunnie »

Do you break V6's as often as TheBoy? Then you need tunnie's towing services, recovery costs are just the humiliation of being towed by 2/3's of an engine

IP Logged

kcl Senior Member Offline Posts: 696 Finland Gender: Drives: 2002 Opel Omega 2,6 Caravan Auto	Re: Intermittent steering issue Reply #3 - 26. Aug 2011 at 09:33 Will check the strut tops and try higher idle if it helps. Only 178 000 kilometers on the clock, what would be the usual expected life time to PAS-pump? Previous car had 250 000 on clock and pump was good
Back to top	IP Logged

cem

Omega King

Offline

Posts: 13920
Ankara/Turkey
Gender: male

Drives: 97 2.5 V6 Manual CD- Clio Sport

Re: Intermittent steering issue
Reply #4 - 26. Aug 2011 at 10:43

tunnie wrote on 26. Aug 2011 at 09:20:

kcl wrote on 26. Aug 2011 at 08:43:

Happens mostly/only when cold, just after starting. When reversing from yard to road I turn all to the right and all seems normal, then put it on drive and turn all to the left and THEN there is a "blind spot" in steering. Feels like power assistance suddenly stops and then continues as normal Huh

This is not normal. No other problems with steering, all joints seem to be ok, fluid level ok, most of the fluid has been changed (had the hose off in the winter and reservoir filled after that), when warm it goes from lock to lock without blinds. No play in steering (other than normal to the structure, IMHO rack-and-pinion is the only good steering Lips Sealed

) Any ideas what to check?

Sounds like a tired steering pump to me, I assuming you have an auto? Its harder to do, but keep the revs up when you do your usual reverse out.

Left foot on brake, right foot on the gas. Use brake like a clutch, try and keep the revs higher than just idle. (2 to 3k rpm)

See if it does it then Thumbs Up!

agreed..

Back to top

IP Logged

kcl Senior Member Offline Posts: 696 Finland Gender: Drives: 2002 Opel Omega 2,6 Caravan Auto	Re: Intermittent steering issue Reply #5 - 26. Aug 2011 at 11:13 Two votes for tired pump What kind of money we are looking at? New or 2nd hand? Anything (leaks, broken parts etc) that I should be looking when finding a second hand one?
Back to top	IP Logged

kcl Senior Member Offline Posts: 696 Finland Gender: Drives: 2002 Opel Omega 2,6 Caravan Auto	Re: Intermittent steering issue Reply #6 - 26. Aug 2011 at 11:16 And, does the new/used pump have to be from same engined car, e.g. need to source one from a 2,6, can one from 2,5/3,0/3,2 be used?
Back to top	IP Logged

cem

Omega King

Offline

Posts: 13920
Ankara/Turkey
Gender: male

Drives: 97 2.5 V6 Manual CD- Clio Sport

Re: Intermittent steering issue
Reply #7 - 26. Aug 2011 at 11:25

kcl wrote on 26. Aug 2011 at 11:13:

Two votes for tired pump Cry

What kind of money we are looking at? New or 2nd hand? Anything (leaks, broken parts etc) that I should be looking when finding a second hand one?

I dont think it requires changing just for an intermittent blind spot .. imo it will actually tell you when really requires changing by making some noises.. Thumbs Up!

ps: just dont force at the limits..

Back to top

« Last Edit: 26. Aug 2011 at 11:27 by cem »

IP Logged

freecall666 Senior Member Offline fun for all, get with the program Posts: 656 looking over your shoulder Gender: Drives: 2.0I polar sea blue	Re: Intermittent steering issue Reply #8 - 26. Aug 2011 at 21:50 would a flush out help?? maybe worth a try.
Back to top	doit your self (DIY) IP Logged

kcl Senior Member Offline Posts: 696 Finland Gender: Drives: 2002 Opel Omega 2,6 Caravan Auto	Re: Intermittent steering issue Reply #9 - 29. Aug 2011 at 06:13 freecall666 wrote on 26. Aug 2011 at 21:50: would a flush out help?? maybe worth a try. That was my thought also after reading the answers; changing pump is quite a job AND, the problem only occurs in the first turn, never when warm/driven for a mile or so...
Back to top	IP Logged

chrisgixer Omega King Offline Black ones are faster. Posts: 14570 Wokingham Gender: Drives: "Omega Black" 3.2 Elite. Thanks to Joshwyatt.	Re: Intermittent steering issue Reply #10 - 30. Aug 2011 at 01:06 Watch the strut tops with the bonnet open, see if they jump when turning the steering wheel, as if binding then suddenly freeing up. May well behave differently at stand still though.
Back to top	« Last Edit: 30. Aug 2011 at 01:07 by chrisgixer » IP Logged

WINDOWMAN

Junior Member

Offline

Posts: 86
dorset
Gender: male

Drives: omega cd 2.5v6 auto estate

Re: Intermittent steering issue
Reply #11 - 30. Aug 2011 at 20:13

not sure if the same thing or if this will help... my steering suddenly went really light one day, just for the day... thought is that how it should be...etc..turns out yes it should be that light and changed the servotronic relay and its all sorted now.. steering light as feather ...like i say not sure if that helps with your issue

Back to top

IP Logged

Lincs Robert

Omega Knight

Offline

Garage fits Omega

Posts: 1918
Lincolnshire
Gender: male

Drives: '99 Auto 3.0 Elite Saloon

Re: Intermittent steering issue
Reply #12 - 30. Aug 2011 at 20:18

kcl wrote on 26. Aug 2011 at 11:13:

Two votes for tired pump Cry

What kind of money we are looking at? New or 2nd hand? Anything (leaks, broken parts etc) that I should be looking when finding a second hand one?

3 votes. I had the same problem with mine after 76k miles. New pump sorted it, I got one from a low miles breaker. Not the easiest of jobs on a V6 but has fixed the problem totally.

Back to top

IP Logged

Andy B Over Active Poster Offline Posts: 21988 Bury Lancs Gender: Drives: 1999 3.0 Elite auto/TDM	Re: Intermittent steering issue Reply #13 - 30. Aug 2011 at 20:21 Lincs Robert wrote on 30. Aug 2011 at 20:18: .... Not the easiest of jobs on a V6 but has fixed the problem totally. Not too bad ISTR it's only 3 bolts that actually hold it to the engine
Back to top	IP Logged

kcl Senior Member Offline Posts: 696 Finland Gender: Drives: 2002 Opel Omega 2,6 Caravan Auto	Re: Intermittent steering issue Reply #14 - 31. Aug 2011 at 10:55 Are there different pumps? SO should mine be coming from a 2,6 or can I use 2,5/3,0/3,2 pumps as well? And, once again, only does this in the first turn in the morning, have never noticed it in any other occasion.
Back to top	IP Logged

This is the old site. Please use the new site.

This is the old site. Please use the new site.

www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php.

This is the old site. Please use the new site.

	Welcome, Guest. Please Login