Power Steering failure and black fluid...Help and advice

XC90fanboy · Feb 16th, 2012, 14:13

Hello everyone
My XC90 D5 03 plate auto is in the garage having several problems addresses: spline sleeve failure, various mounts and brakets replaced as well as the steering rack being recondition! The steering was incredibly heavy.The independent garage rang and confirmed the pump was fine but rack had failed. When flushing the system they noticed the fluid was very badly blackened or burnt looking. They ask how long it had been in and I said that it had only been flushed and replaced by my local independent a 3 months ago! They said that it might point to the failure of the rack but could not shed any more light. They have now replaced the rack and reported the steering is 10x better but still has a slight 'notchiness' about it when first trying to move the wheel but say it could be just the new seals needing to bed in?????? They have also recommended returning to them after 3 weeks and having another flush and fluid replacement???

I'm not mechanically minded but I'm also not stupid so any answers technical or otherwise would be good.
The garage did ask what type of fluid my local garage had used because if it had been wrong it could have danger the already worn seals and that was causing the fluid to turn black?? Interestingly when the local garage replaced the fluid they called me because they discovered that they had to use 'special' fluid??

One other point. The garage advised me to have a software download from Volvo to disable the geartronic box from entering neutral whilst ideal because they noticed on the road test that the car jolted when pulling away from stationary. They said this was due to wear and if left could cause more damage in the long term to the gearbox so advised me to have the software changed. Any ideas?????

Thanks in advance.

XC90fanboy · Feb 16th, 2012, 20:03

So got car back and now £470 lighter but that's the only light thing... Steering still very heavy and no real improvement!!! So is my steering not fixed or is the steering on a XC90 usually heavy? I have no experience of another XC90.
My old v70 had lovely light steering??
Any suggestions??
Many thanks

Feb 16th, 2012, 14:13	#1
XC90fanboy New Member Last Online: Aug 20th, 2012 23:34 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Essex	Power Steering failure and black fluid...Help and advice Hello everyone My XC90 D5 03 plate auto is in the garage having several problems addresses: spline sleeve failure, various mounts and brakets replaced as well as the steering rack being recondition! The steering was incredibly heavy.The independent garage rang and confirmed the pump was fine but rack had failed. When flushing the system they noticed the fluid was very badly blackened or burnt looking. They ask how long it had been in and I said that it had only been flushed and replaced by my local independent a 3 months ago! They said that it might point to the failure of the rack but could not shed any more light. They have now replaced the rack and reported the steering is 10x better but still has a slight 'notchiness' about it when first trying to move the wheel but say it could be just the new seals needing to bed in?????? They have also recommended returning to them after 3 weeks and having another flush and fluid replacement??? I'm not mechanically minded but I'm also not stupid so any answers technical or otherwise would be good. The garage did ask what type of fluid my local garage had used because if it had been wrong it could have danger the already worn seals and that was causing the fluid to turn black?? Interestingly when the local garage replaced the fluid they called me because they discovered that they had to use 'special' fluid?? One other point. The garage advised me to have a software download from Volvo to disable the geartronic box from entering neutral whilst ideal because they noticed on the road test that the car jolted when pulling away from stationary. They said this was due to wear and if left could cause more damage in the long term to the gearbox so advised me to have the software changed. Any ideas????? Thanks in advance.

Feb 16th, 2012, 20:03	#2
XC90fanboy New Member Last Online: Aug 20th, 2012 23:34 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Essex	No real change!! :( So got car back and now £470 lighter but that's the only light thing... Steering still very heavy and no real improvement!!! So is my steering not fixed or is the steering on a XC90 usually heavy? I have no experience of another XC90. My old v70 had lovely light steering?? Any suggestions?? Many thanks

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