Xantia - steering completely solid

[CitroJim]

Yes, just about being able to move the steering is just about how it is with no assistance in my experience.

Can you easily turn the steering if the front wheels are raised clear of the ground? The steering should be easy, even with no assistance. If still very, very stiff there may be an internal mechanical problem in the rack.

I once had this problem after fitting a newly refurbished pump. I don't know how it happened but a small flake of metal blocked the delivery pipe at the pump-end union.

It'll be worth checking the delivery pipe for kinks or squashing where it runs along the lower edge of the subframe from the pump to the pinion valve. It may have become damaged through an accidental grounding or striking debris in the road... A pipe squashed flat will definitely give heavy steering...

If not all that, I remain suspicious of the pump... It can be checked by connecting a pressure gauge by teeing into the delivery pipe. You should see around 150'ish bars... Not easy to do as you'll need to fabricate an adaptor.

Else, swap the pump for a known good one if you can. If that all fails, you're looking at a potential pinion valve or ram problem.

[Jaf]

Thanks Jim. Pipework looks fine. Steering lovely and light with wheels up.

I am extremely glad the steering didn't go when I was driving downhill!

I'm ordering a secondhand pump. My dad was the engineer, I'm not getting drawn into brain stuff.

[Jaf]

Got the pump off. Local scrapyard had one! Not sure why they loosened a 13mm bolt. It is dirty though, needs a nice wash. As does my alternator but wondering if I should clean it, since it has electrics? I need a new aux belt as its contaminated and an accumulator sphere. Will use old belt for start up though, in case the pump spews everywhere!

[Armidillo]

Ah, the old LHM in the alternator trick! is it just grimy, or wet with LHM (which has dripped from the pump)? If it's just grimy then it's probably OK, but if there's evidence that LHM has got inside the alternator then it's not OK. The problem is not so much the oil as the carbon and other dust that it traps, turning it into a grinding paste (which is probably also electrically conductive).

I agree that washing these is not usually recommended (although I have got away with a squirt of degreaser and a flush out with water, then leave it to dry before firing up), but doing nothing is really not a good idea. You've got the belt off, so now is the time to get the alternator out. If you don't think you can dismantle and clean it internally yourself, it would be worth getting it checked/reconditioned by an auto sparky.

Would your local scrapyard also have the alternator? If your 'new' pump is just dirty, then the alternator off the same car should be OK .

[Jaf]

Thanks. I cannot trust the local auto electrian (long story, bunch of @rses). I think that disturbing the dirt, without doing it properly, will just push the dirt deeper in. It is utterly filthy, full of LHM paste. Will have a look tomorrow and decide.

Scrappy probably would have a alternator if necessary. I've had half a car from there it feels like.

(I remember many years ago using a reconditioning place where they essentially had industrial dish washers.)

[CitroJim]

As Armidillo says... I've had a few LHM contaminated alternators now and I've cleaned them adequately without stripping them by well and truly dousing them in electronics grade solvent and blowing them clean with an airline... Keep washing and soaking in solvent until it runs out clean!

Check very carefully the compatibility of that replacement pump... There are detail differences in pumps and if the replacement is not absolutely identical you may run into issue with the aux. belt fitting and alignment...

If your old aux. belt is badly contaminated, it may be slipping under high pump load when trying to steer and thus causing the issue... Do not rule this out... I'd try a new aux.belt first of all and check it is correctly tensioned...

[Jaf]

Wahhhh! Not the pump then. Luckily the pump seems a good one, even sounds quieter, with no immediate leaks.

Still can't hear the accumulator tick though. I think this was from many years ago, when the accumulator was leaking...did a repair, involved drilling a hole to get at the circlip. Hoping this has not caused a problem!

Aux belt only has 10,000kms on it, with new tensioners. I managed to drip lhm on it, fiddling about with the pipes after the steering broke, so changing it out of caution. Still on old belt at the moment, but it looks fine. I'll pick one up tomorrow and pop it on Saturday.

If it's not the aux belt. Not the pump. Not the mechanical parts of the steering rack. Then there's only pipework? Which looks fine, no leaks. I have had an internally collapsed pipe once, which looked fine externally. There must be some electrical side too?

Ps Jackie cat finding all this very boring

[CitroJim]

This really is getting to be a mystery Jaf....

Love the cat

[Jaf]

Little update. Couldn't go to the town with a spares shop so no new belt yet.

Had another look.

Steering has some power, makes the squeal on full steering lock. Plenty of lhm in the steering return pipe (I ate some!). Disconnected both track rod ends...even then the steering was heavy. Both rack arms are floppy so half the rack is worn.

So new aux belt next week. Then, I don't know.

Alfie and Frank say it's dinner time. Bit late, even for me.

[Jaf]

Update. Didn't do anything at all on the car all month (health stuff, storm took the road out, general laziness).

Yesterday started her up and the steering felt almost normal! Went for a drive, still good. Today at my spanish class was a Belgium chap with a nice petrol, burgundy, xantia. I asked to try his steering. He was a bit surprised but let me. Actually his steering was a touch heavier than mine.

So I guess the universal joint has loosened or there was air in the lhm. Will grease uj a bit more frequently!

Thanks again.

Lori keeping my lap warm.

[CitroJim]

That's great news Jaf I love resolutions like that!

That's a gorgeous cat you have there

[Stickyfinger]

Air lock............

[Hell Razor5543]

Air lock............

Thereby proving the Xantia is a bit of space age technology!

[CitroJim]

Air lock............

Thereby proving the Xantia is a bit of space age technology!

[Stickyfinger]

Air lock............

Thereby proving the Xantia is a bit of space age technology!

or a 1830's digger of tunnels