Steering doesn't like water

[gtv]

Hi folks,I have a bit of a strange on here, I have noticed that when it has been raining and there is alot of standing water around that sometimes my steering goes heavy, once the car have dried up its fine again, now I am guessing water is getting into a connector somewhere but I have no idea where, I have checked the power steering fluid and thats all ok. Car is a 1998 D8 2.1TD I have looked at the haynes book of lies and I couldn't see anything to do with electrics for the power steering.
Thanks for any help you can give.

[steve_earwig]

...I couldn't see anything to do with electrics for the power steering.

It might do if it has variable power steering. Not sure how you tell just by looking, maybe a vin to check it on Service Box?

[gtv]

Thanks for the reply. I don't think the d8 do.

[markw]

Water finding it's way onto the aux belt making it lose friction for a bit? That would stop/slow down the power steering pump till it dried off again.....

If it's electrically variable, it'll have one of these little valves on the rack. These can be cylindrical or square.
This view is from underneath looking up.

[steve_earwig]

Water finding it's way onto the aux belt making it lose friction for a bit? That would stop/slow down the power steering pump till it dried off again.....

That's a good point, especially if it doesn't have an undertray.

I don't think the d8 do.

Yeah they do, even high-end 2.1tds were so cursed.

[gtv]

Thanks for that. I will get underneath it and check. I don't think it's the belt I have tried and it seems ok and I have tried with everything turned on to see if it loafs up the alternator and it still worked ok.

[markw]

If it's the electrically variable type and is the same type as fitted to the V6, I made up a test loom which enables you to break into the live circuit and see what's going on. You just unplug the servo controller and plug the loom in it's place.
That's how I was able to diagnose a partially functioning valve on my rack....it would have been very hit n' miss otherwise.
I'd happily post it out to you if it'd help.

[gtv]

That would be great if you don't mind

[markw]

See if it's got one of these first....(this is the power steering ecu believe it or not)




It's fitted up behind the glovebox....


If it has, I'll send you this!(minus the multimeter.....)

[PeterN]

I would go with water on the drive belt.

Peter

[Doggy]

Mighty impressive, Mark.

I'm awarding you 9.9 improvisation points out of a possible 10
(Would have been a maximum were it not for the stick-on cable tie bases, [you know they'll fall off, just not exactly when])

[markw]

Haha ...got you on that one....they're screwed down with a half inch self tapper through the middle! That piece of mdf will break before they come off!

"Dix points?"

[Welly]

I'm afraid I'm deducting two points for the careless use of a document 'pouch' where the instructions (although typed) would have been better laminated

[steve_earwig]

Seems fine to me, then I don't have a laminator either

[Welly]

Seems fine to me, then I don't have a laminator either

We have the WH Smith wait-o-laminator MKII, it's like watching continental drift in slow motion..........

I was only joking, Mark has done an excellent job there, there aint no denying that.