Steering: 70: Noisy power steering pump

[Jayceem]

Originally Posted by scotsgent

Hi JayceeM,

My reservoir is the same (seperate). I had a look into it. There does seem to be an integral moulded pipe built into the internal side of the reservoir which I think takes the returning fluid back to the reservoir beneath the normal level of the fluid.

Although my fluid is new (I did a flush and change a couple of weeks ago), its as black as night inside the black reservoir and even with a torch its difficult to see what is going on in there.

I would be interested to hear what your garage says though. As I say, no brass section is visible. I can quite see how if the fluid were 'frothed', then this would take air bubbles back to the pump and might cause the noise we both have?
Cheers, Terry

hi terry
that will be the pipe thats broke on mine maybe it is nylon rather than brass as it is hard to see it right as it is rattling about the bottom of the reservoir as i say iam getting the car back on monday so i will give an update after that
JayceeM

[Jayceem]

Hi
Got new reservoir fitted all quiet now!! Next on the list is the MAF.and hopefully that will be the last raid on the wallet for a while
JayceeM

[scotsgent]

Hi JayceeM,

Did the garage explain how or why your reservoir had failed?

Was it the internal piping or something else? For the life of me, I cant see how the internal piping could fail, it receives no wear or vibration and is part of the moulding of the tank.

Cheers, Terry

[Jayceem]

Hi
the internal pipe had parted company from the inlet - how this happened your guess is as good as mine but when the garage phoned main dealer to order one they were not surprised som it appears to be something that does happen - i wonder if anyone else has encountered this?
as i say all is hunky dory now even fitted the new Maf tonoight and the infernal light has gone out - HAPPY DAYS
Cheers
Jackie

[upv5]

I've revived this thread because I had the same noisy problem and at last I've found the cause.
The power steering was virtually silent when started from cold but after a few miles the "grinding" noise appeared when lock was applied. I asked my dealer to check when the car was serviced but he found nothing wrong.
The noise is certainly because the fluid is being frothed up and the air is getting to the pump, no amount of bleeding would stop the frothing so I looked further.
My 2000 classic V70 has the remote reservoir and there is a brass pipe in the return from the rack, Volvo call this a restrictor on Vadis. I found I could quite easilly move the pipe in and out and guess what, the noise changed.
I did not know what the correct position of the brass pipe should be so I guessed that one end would be flush with the end of the plastic reservoir pipe. I removed the feed from the rack and pushed out the brass pipe to check for damage, none could be seen so I put the pipe back ensuring the end was flush with the plastic. I refitted the flexible rack return pipe and fitted a new jubilee. It seems this clamp is all that stops the brass pipe from moving so I did it up tight.
The power steering is now as it should be quiet at all times and it only cost a jubilee clip.

The position of the brass pipe appears to be very important and in time it can move. this affects the way the fluid impinges on the far side of the reservoir and then leads to frothing and noise.

This won't cure a pump that's past it's prime but if you get these symptoms, please check the pipe before you start spending money at the stealers.

John

[TonyBeno]

Originally Posted by upv5

I've revived this thread because I had the same noisy problem and at last I've found the cause.
The power steering was virtually silent when started from cold but after a few miles the "grinding" noise appeared when lock was applied. I asked my dealer to check when the car was serviced but he found nothing wrong.
The noise is certainly because the fluid is being frothed up and the air is getting to the pump, no amount of bleeding would stop the frothing so I looked further.
My 2000 classic V70 has the remote reservoir and there is a brass pipe in the return from the rack, Volvo call this a restrictor on Vadis. I found I could quite easilly move the pipe in and out and guess what, the noise changed.
I did not know what the correct position of the brass pipe should be so I guessed that one end would be flush with the end of the plastic reservoir pipe. I removed the feed from the rack and pushed out the brass pipe to check for damage, none could be seen so I put the pipe back ensuring the end was flush with the plastic. I refitted the flexible rack return pipe and fitted a new jubilee. It seems this clamp is all that stops the brass pipe from moving so I did it up tight.
The power steering is now as it should be quiet at all times and it only cost a jubilee clip.

The position of the brass pipe appears to be very important and in time it can move. this affects the way the fluid impinges on the far side of the reservoir and then leads to frothing and noise.

This won't cure a pump that's past it's prime but if you get these symptoms, please check the pipe before you start spending money at the stealers.

John

I wish I'd found this thread before I changed my PAS pump amd rack it would have saved me a fortune. I learned a valuable lesson though ALLWAYS check the posted threads first!!!!!!

Tony

[Jayceem]

Hi tony
i have just revisited this thread as i kicked it off -sorry you had to do all the other bits before finding the problem if its any consolation i think i might need a steering rack now as i seem to be losing fluid its been to wet to check under the car yet for any signs of the dreaded leakage. Did you get your rack new or rebuilt? any good sources of reasonably priced ones should i need one?
Cheers
JackieM

[v70x]

hi guy's does the same problem with the pipe exist on the later built on resevoirs to the pump. i have a similar problem think it may be the pump.

[S A T]

I've just had the brass pipe problem described in this thread. If you check out my thread S80 steering pump noise, you'll get some more detail but, basically, there is a brass pipe that sits inside the inlet from the top hose returning the fluid to the reservoir. The end of this pipe protudes into the reservoir and fits into a black elbow-shaped pipe that angles downwards to the bottom of the reservoir.

Sometimes (don't know why), the elbow-shaped pipe slips off the brass pipe so the returing fluid just pours into the reservoir above the surface of the fluid. This seems to allow air to get into the fluid and causes what is called cavitation in the steering pump. A nice description of why this causes a whining/howling noise can be found here http://www.thirdgen.org/noises-power-steering-pump.

If you can see a brass pipe sticking out inside the reservoir when you take off the cap, then you will find the black plastic pipe lying at the bottom of the reservoir. If you take a piece of wire and bend it into a hook at one end, you'll be able to fish this pipe back up and refit it to the brass pipe. And, miraculously, that's the end of the whining from the pump. Wish I had known this before I replaced both pump and rack!!!

[upv5]

Gold star to S A T,
In the past it took me ages to position the brass pipe to reduce the frothing and resultant pump noise. It never struck me there was a piece missing and Vadis was no help either.
Anyway last night I went fishing and low and behold at the bottom of the reservoir was the missing part. Soon had it refitted on the brass tube and power steering is permanently silent.
Total cost Nothing
Thanks again S A T.

John