faulty power steering 89 GT - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

rutuger85 · 07-29-2005, 09:25 PM

My power steering is really funcky. It hardly ever works properly until I get close to either the left or right steering limit, then it turns on. I'm not exactly sure but it seems as if it gets turned on when I touch the gas. (as in when I'm giving it a little while steering into a parking space) Also and again this is only a guess it seems to work better when my car is under conditions where everything under the hood would be hot. (ie the car has been running but just idling on a hot day) I've had someone tell me that a faulty pressure sensor in the pump could cause this but now that I've found this forum I thought I'd post my question to see what other people think. So if anyone could help that would be awesome because not having power steering really takes some of the fun out of driving and a celica thats not fun to drive is a real shame.

fredk · 07-30-2005, 09:26 PM

put some lucas in it

Rick89GTS · 07-31-2005, 12:58 AM

Do the simple (cheap) things first:
1) check the fluid level
2) check the belt tension
3) check for leaks in the high pressure hose
4) crawl under and see if the idle-up vlave on the bottom of the PS pump is damaged

rutuger85 · 07-31-2005, 10:15 AM

Is there a seperate belt that drives the power steering pump than the one to the alternator and A/C compressor? What can you tell me about the idle up valve? (exact funtion/what kind of damage to look for/replacement) I'm leaning towards these two as possibilities because I've checked the fluid level many times and there hasn't been any difference and if there is then it is a new problem and not the one that has been nagging me this whole time.

fredk, what do you think the Lucas will do? Just want to know what your thinking is.

Rick89GTS · 07-31-2005, 06:09 PM

PS belt is separate.
Idle-Up valve is plastic and fragile. It increases the engine idle at low speed steering situations so you engine RPM's don't drop too low. It attaches to two small air hoses and can break off at those points.

rutuger85 · 08-02-2005, 09:51 PM

I'd also like to mention that this problem doesn't just happen when the engine is close to running at idle like when I'm parking. Lots of the time I'll be in a long turn (interstate off-ramp) and the PS will all of a sudden turn on.

I was also wondering what the fluid in the reservior normally does when the car is running. The fluid in my car is swirling and I was just wanted to know if this is any indication that I need more fluid or if everything is just fine.

If there is anymore information about my PS problem that might help in narrowing the issue I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.

Thanks

fredk · 08-02-2005, 10:23 PM

the lucas will make the oil thicker and not as able to go past the seals in the rack, easy test to this, if you have to rev it up to make it pump, the pump is worn out and this never changes,and is highly un likely and the pump will howel like a sick dog, but seems to steer easier when cold, now if your assist is comming and going at any rpm, its the rack, and this could be a real big suprise going around a corner and the assist decides to quit

rutuger85 · 08-03-2005, 02:42 PM

Hey fredk, I'll try the lucas to see what it will do because what you said about it being the rack makes sense. Got to be worth a try.

rutuger85 · 08-04-2005, 09:33 PM

Wow, marked improvement in the steering after adding a bottle of Lucas. It still isn't perfect but I can't complain.

I'm wondering if it would help to add a second bottle (after removing some fluid). The instructions say to add one to two bottles. So would it make more of a difference or should I just see how well the first bottle works out?