Dying Hydraulic Pump?, Especially when cold!

Hi,

I have a strange phenomenon which seems to be getting worse as we get colder weather..

On starting the car first thing, particularly after a cold night, the power steering behaves strangely. Seems to resist turning (particularly to the right?) and wants to straighten up once turned. The problem seems to disappear once the engine has warmed up. When starting, there also seems to be an almost rasping noise which also disappears once warmed up.

I tend also to get a low hydraulic pressure warning as the car initially rises which then goes away after about 15 seconds.

This really only seems to have started fairly recently and is particularly noticable on cold mornings.

Just wondering if anyone recognises these symptoms?

Thanks

Andrew

Hi. Pavesa.

I'm sure you will get loads of input on this topic, but I'd start with the basics and if you haven't changed the fluid in a while, I'd drain, run a cleaning fluid as instructed and then refill with new LHM.

Mike.

Hi Mike,

I checked the level and it is fine. It was last topped up in July..

Hi again.

Just topping up only adds a tiny percentage of fresh fluid. I would definitely look at draining, flushing and replenishing the lot. Don't forget also there is a filter mesh within the reservoir that will probably stand cleaning.

Mike.

Hi Mike,

thanks for the guidance, I'll give it a go.. Do you know the characteristics of a dying hydraulic pump? I'd like to exclude that possibility.

Andrew

If you say you're getting a "rasping" noise and low pressure warning when cold it could be a loose auxilliary belt.

They tend to slip when they're cold and grip more as they get warmer. When slipping you won't get full pump pressure hence the warning and stiff steering and the noise could be the belt slipping round the pulleys.

I dare to stick my nose in here and say that when the fluid is changed, and particularly when the LHM internal filters have been cleaned, then is the time to check the state of the pump's efficiency. Until then it is a waste of time.

Hi Dave,

that certainly fits the symptoms especially as the weather is getting colder. Interestingly, one of the bearings on the fan belt needed replacing during the summer so maybe it wasn't tightened up enough.

I'll have that looked at as well.

Thanks very much - strange how as a Citroen owner we always assume the worst!

Andrew

Guess how I found out these symptoms!

Well, I guess that's the benefit of forums like this, people can benefit from each other's experience - something useful can be retrieved from those situations!

I would also check the belt, it causes a very large proportion of of low pressure/volume problems.

Peter.N.

Thanks Peter,

certainly it seems to fit all the symptoms.

Andrew

Hi all,

it turned out that it was a loose belt. After tightening it the problem has completely gone a way

Thanks for all your help.

Andrew

Hi everyone - our XM has been running well for the last few months. But it recently started exhibiting exactly the symptoms of the Original Poster:

• Slow to rise (especially when cold)
• Stiff power steering

I took it to our local garage (not Citroen specialists) and they said they've tightened the belt as described - but if anything it's worse. Should I get it tightened more? Or should we check something else?

LHM was changed and flushed about 6 months ago. I believe the pump should be OK as it was replaces with a spare from another car about 6 months ago by a Citroen specialist (but he lives far away and I'm unlikely to be going his way for a while).

Many thanks if anyone can advise.

Tom

This post has been edited by knitatoms on March 16, 2007 11:04 am

LHM was changed and flushed about 6 months ago<

The vital thing possibly missed here was cleaning the LHM filters. Was this done?

If the belt is tight now, don't overtighten - it will do the pump bearing no good at all; but is it the pulley on the adjuster that's failing and making the noise?