C5 X7 no power steering

[wurlycorner]

Thanks very much for doing that, Rob.
Didn’t expect it to look quite that identical - disproves any possible bodging on mine!
I’m going to have another go at getting the wire numbers off the ‘spare’ wires (I couldn’t find them yesterday, but surely must have some) to try and find out what they would be associated with, if they were in use.

[wurlycorner]

Last week, work went mental and I didn’t have any chance to get back on the car. I was away at the weekend in Manchester - took the x7 and the power steering didn’t miss a beat the whole time.
I hate problems that get ‘fixed’ with no definitive cause found (because you just can’t trust that they won’t come back).

[the-termin8r]

I think it might have been those pinches wires or maybe a partial break somewhere in the loom that got reconnected when you were last inspecting it.

[wurlycorner]

Just to close this off, now a month on and it hasn’t missed a beat. No idea what the cause was - which I hate!

I took the ECU frame out (due to minor surface corrosion, which for no functional reason, I just couldn’t ignore) wire brushed and satin black hammerite spray painted it.
Brass wire brushed off the surface corrosion on the ecu’s, cleaned out all the dust, dirt, some odd (what looked like shredded nut shells from a rodent taking something into the engine bay to eat?), re-wrapped the looms where the original insulating tape had come loose (kept to the same black and blue colours because…) changed the tie-wrap round the loom on the main ECU plug (thicker cable tie that I think is less likely to cause pointed specific chaffing) wrapped the bare loom in the ‘y’ split area in fabric look tape, reinforced the loom wrap with additional layers of fabric tape where it ‘rubs’ on the corner of the ECU, cable tied the spare/loose wires against the main loom (so it’s no longer flapping around) and then reassembled it all.
Didn’t take pics at every step because I just wanted to get it done and then light was running out, but a couple for what it’s worth and in case there’s any useful info for someone going in there in future.

[the-termin8r]

Hopefully that's the end of that.

[wurlycorner]

Certainly hope so…

[fcesur77]

Hello, I have the same hard steering issue on my 2.0 2011 C5. No fault on the screen. Battery changed, alternator brushes changed. Fluid changed with LDS. Bleeding procedure was applied. Voltage goes down 14,4 > 12,9 and goes back 14,4 again. I think steering is smoother at low weather temperature like 3-4 degrees. I will try to check everything you have already suggested.

[wurlycorner]

Hello, I have the same hard steering issue on my 2.0 2011 C5. No fault on the screen. Battery changed, alternator brushes changed. Fluid changed with LDS. Bleeding procedure was applied. Voltage goes down 14,4 > 12,9 and goes back 14,4 again. I think steering is smoother at low weather temperature like 3-4 degrees. I will try to check everything you have already suggested.

Does yours have engine driven hydraulic power steering, or electric power steering? There were different set ups fitted the x7.
My fault finding here only really applies only to the engine driven hydraulic power steering type.

[the-termin8r]

If memory serves, all the 2Ls had the electric pump. The engine-driven pumps were on all the V6s (petrol and diesel) and some versions of the DV6 which was the 1.6 diesel, but I don't know which ones. Also worth noting that the CSS ECU only appears in the 3L diesel and (I think) the 2.7.

[fcesur77]

Hello, I have the same hard steering issue on my 2.0 2011 C5. No fault on the screen. Battery changed, alternator brushes changed. Fluid changed with LDS. Bleeding procedure was applied. Voltage goes down 14,4 > 12,9 and goes back 14,4 again. I think steering is smoother at low weather temperature like 3-4 degrees. I will try to check everything you have already suggested.

Does yours have engine driven hydraulic power steering, or electric power steering? There were different set ups fitted the x7.
My fault finding here only really applies only to the engine driven hydraulic power steering type.

It is 2.0 HDI 2011 model. It has electrohydraulic power steering pump. I will apply +12V by adding 80A fuse right after battery + terminal to understand if the problem is because of the electrical system or steering pump. No one can fix the issue in my region.