XC70: Information - Loss of Power Steering

Stone Free · Nov 25th, 2017, 13:50

Have just checked out a nice XC70 - 2008 - 200k plus on the clock. However when turning the steering wheel when stationery it loses it's power steering & this only recovers when pressing the accelarator & starting to move.
Is this likely to be just a faulty power steering pump or something more sinister perhaps ?

Simon Jones · Nov 25th, 2017, 15:57

I've got an '08 XC70 which just had a new p/s pump and it still quite heavy compared to the P2's I've owned before. The slightly later versions had a setting in one of the menus to adjust the sensitivity of the steering, but unfortunately mine must be a bit too old. Not sure about the D5, but the pump on the 3.2 petrol engine is a bit of a pig to get to so I left it to the garage to replace.

tommyweaves · Nov 25th, 2017, 16:06

Would a slipping power steering belt behave like that?

kenny · Nov 25th, 2017, 23:04

This is a known issue, the power steering fluid reacts with the alloy pipes. This causes swarf to block the filter which in turn kills the pump. The fix is new pipes and pump.

Tatsfield · Nov 26th, 2017, 12:04

Just for information Kenny, can you say if Volvo introduced design changes to eliminate this fault and if so from which year. I'm hoping my 2012 will not suffer from this fault. Am I safe?

kenny · Nov 26th, 2017, 13:11

I am sure they did something but not sure when, this happened to my 2008 phase 3 and the various threads I read were all early phase 3 cars.

green van man · Nov 26th, 2017, 16:01

I change the power steering fluid every 2 years in the hope it will prevent the problem.

I believe like the factory coolant turning brown as the inhibitors fail the powers steering fluid also looses its corrosion inhibitors with age. Hopefully changing the fluid regularly will keep the inhibitors fresh and prevent the corrosion.

Paul.

daveyboy58 · Jan 1st, 2019, 15:15

Hi, I have an 02 plate xc70, last night the power steering failed and when I was investigating the cause, I found the fluid was all over the alternator and surrounding area, I checked all the rubber pipes and their connections couldn't find why it had leaked so dried it off, partially topped up the reservoir and started the engine.
Whilst the steering was in the straight ahead position nothing happened but as soon as I turned the steering wheel from side to side fluid started to spurt out of the nut connecting the metal pipe to the power steering pump, even though it was tight.
I undone the nut and checked the seal and for me it looked okay, has anyone had this happen to them before, is it just a case of the seal failing and needing to be replaced if so is it a standard size and where is the best place to get them from or is this likely to be something inside the pump itself has failed and a pressure build up blew the seal, meaning I need a new pump, not something I wanted to happen on new years eve but hey ho,
help please

luggsey · Jan 1st, 2019, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveyboy58

Hi, I have an 02 plate xc70, last night the power steering failed and when I was investigating the cause, I found the fluid was all over the alternator and surrounding area, I checked all the rubber pipes and their connections couldn't find why it had leaked so dried it off, partially topped up the reservoir and started the engine.
Whilst the steering was in the straight ahead position nothing happened but as soon as I turned the steering wheel from side to side fluid started to spurt out of the nut connecting the metal pipe to the power steering pump, even though it was tight.
I undone the nut and checked the seal and for me it looked okay, has anyone had this happen to them before, is it just a case of the seal failing and needing to be replaced if so is it a standard size and where is the best place to get them from or is this likely to be something inside the pump itself has failed and a pressure build up blew the seal, meaning I need a new pump, not something I wanted to happen on new years eve but hey ho,
help please

I would look for a hairline fracture in the pipe first.

daveyboy58 · Jan 3rd, 2019, 16:12

Hi, thanks for this info, I was talking to the tech at the local volvo garage he said that the pipes sometimes are the things that go for no apparent reason, I bought a new seal and tried that but it was still leaking from the back of the nut, the fact that fluid is coming out under pressure makes me think that the pump is working fine, so I think the hairline crack in the pipe is the most likely cause of the problem, looking at that though it looks like quite a big job to replace, is it something I could tackle myself or is it better to get it to the garage

Nov 25th, 2017, 13:50	#1
Stone Free VOC Member Last Online: Apr 7th, 2024 14:12 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Llanddulas	Loss of Power Steering Have just checked out a nice XC70 - 2008 - 200k plus on the clock. However when turning the steering wheel when stationery it loses it's power steering & this only recovers when pressing the accelarator & starting to move. Is this likely to be just a faulty power steering pump or something more sinister perhaps ?

Nov 25th, 2017, 15:57	#2
Simon Jones Premier Member Last Online: Jan 15th, 2022 11:23 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salisbury (ish)	I've got an '08 XC70 which just had a new p/s pump and it still quite heavy compared to the P2's I've owned before. The slightly later versions had a setting in one of the menus to adjust the sensitivity of the steering, but unfortunately mine must be a bit too old. Not sure about the D5, but the pump on the 3.2 petrol engine is a bit of a pig to get to so I left it to the garage to replace. __________________ 2008 XC70 3.2 SE Lux with LPG conversion - current 2005 XC70 D5 SE Lux - sold 2004 XC70 D5 SE Lux - written off by another XC70 2001 V70 D5 - sold 2000 V70 Classic 2.4 - sold

Nov 26th, 2017, 12:04	#5
Tatsfield Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 10:10 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Poole	Just for information Kenny, can you say if Volvo introduced design changes to eliminate this fault and if so from which year. I'm hoping my 2012 will not suffer from this fault. Am I safe? __________________ 2012 XC70 SE Lux Polestar 230 bhp D5 Auto Oyster Grey

Jan 1st, 2019, 15:15	#8
daveyboy58 New Member Last Online: Jan 4th, 2019 13:30 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Trowbridge	xc70 power steering pump leak Hi, I have an 02 plate xc70, last night the power steering failed and when I was investigating the cause, I found the fluid was all over the alternator and surrounding area, I checked all the rubber pipes and their connections couldn't find why it had leaked so dried it off, partially topped up the reservoir and started the engine. Whilst the steering was in the straight ahead position nothing happened but as soon as I turned the steering wheel from side to side fluid started to spurt out of the nut connecting the metal pipe to the power steering pump, even though it was tight. I undone the nut and checked the seal and for me it looked okay, has anyone had this happen to them before, is it just a case of the seal failing and needing to be replaced if so is it a standard size and where is the best place to get them from or is this likely to be something inside the pump itself has failed and a pressure build up blew the seal, meaning I need a new pump, not something I wanted to happen on new years eve but hey ho, help please

Nov 25th, 2017, 16:06	#3
tommyweaves Premier Member Last Online: Apr 10th, 2024 19:55 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sleaford	Would a slipping power steering belt behave like that?

Nov 25th, 2017, 23:04	#4
kenny Master Member Last Online: Dec 16th, 2020 20:33 Join Date: May 2009 Location: kirknewton	This is a known issue, the power steering fluid reacts with the alloy pipes. This causes swarf to block the filter which in turn kills the pump. The fix is new pipes and pump.

Nov 26th, 2017, 13:11	#6
kenny Master Member Last Online: Dec 16th, 2020 20:33 Join Date: May 2009 Location: kirknewton	I am sure they did something but not sure when, this happened to my 2008 phase 3 and the various threads I read were all early phase 3 cars.

Nov 26th, 2017, 16:01	#7
green van man Premier Member Last Online: Apr 11th, 2024 09:21 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ffos y Ffin	I change the power steering fluid every 2 years in the hope it will prevent the problem. I believe like the factory coolant turning brown as the inhibitors fail the powers steering fluid also looses its corrosion inhibitors with age. Hopefully changing the fluid regularly will keep the inhibitors fresh and prevent the corrosion. Paul.

Jan 3rd, 2019, 16:12	#10
daveyboy58 New Member Last Online: Jan 4th, 2019 13:30 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Trowbridge	Hi, thanks for this info, I was talking to the tech at the local volvo garage he said that the pipes sometimes are the things that go for no apparent reason, I bought a new seal and tried that but it was still leaking from the back of the nut, the fact that fluid is coming out under pressure makes me think that the pump is working fine, so I think the hairline crack in the pipe is the most likely cause of the problem, looking at that though it looks like quite a big job to replace, is it something I could tackle myself or is it better to get it to the garage

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