Power Steering

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

My power steering doesn't really feel like power steering at all. When I originally bought the car, my mate was with me on the test drive and I mentioned to him that the steering seemed heavy, so he had a go and said it was fine and that it was 'weighted' or something to make it heavier, otherwise the car would be too all over the place kinda thing. This seemed really daft to me, but I dunno. My parents used to have a Renault 19 1.4RT that I used to drive, and that steering felt a LOT more power assisted than mine, and the same goes for their new Megane now. I am gonna try to check the power steering fluid tomorrow, but as of yet........me, my dad, and few of my mates have failed to get the frikkin lid off the frikkin power steering fluid thing.....and it's too dirty to see the level through it, so I just can't tell. It does look like it possibly might be leaking down there tho, it's covered in some kinda crap........

So yeah, basically.......is it normal for my power steering to be much heavier than a 1.4RT R19, and most other cars with power steering? Or does it seem as tho I have a problem?

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

you have to get that cap out for a start

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

you need to get the bottle out of its little holder and have one hand holding the bottle and one on the cap, did this on the 16v today. My TD's powersteering is a fair bit lighter than my 16v's...no apparent reason.

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

I know that. Would be handy to know if my steering is meant to be like it is tho. If it's normal to be heavier than most cars then I can stop worrying and trying to solve it......and if it should be nice & light like most cars, then I need to START worrying and solve it lol

Level 3 User Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 79

I have several motors between myself and my future father in law. Phase 1 and 2, Laguna 2.0 8v. 2x Mazda 323fastback's. Nissan Primera 2.0 16vGT. Peugeot 306 TD. 19 16v's phase 1 and 2, these are the ones with P,S. The 19 16v's are much much heavier on steering to any of the others.

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Cheers bridges, that's what I wanted to hear Very Happy

I managed to get the lid off today to check the power steering fluid level and it seems okay too. It's just a bit above minimum. Legend

Level 8 User Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 263

Bridges wrote:

I have several motors between myself and my future father in law. Phase 1 and 2, Laguna 2.0 8v. 2x Mazda 323fastback's. Nissan Primera 2.0 16vGT. Peugeot 306 TD. 19 16v's phase 1 and 2, these are the ones with P,S. The 19 16v's are much much heavier on steering to any of the others.

What body chassis of Mazda323F did you own?
89-94 = BG F
94-98 = BA F

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

16V steering is heavier.

Level 3 User Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 79

Srr, I have a Red 1.6 carb BG F pop up lights, subtly tweeked and styled and is lowered. My girlfriend has a BA-F Noble green 1.5 16V GLX, looks good on 16's and lowered with the Zxi kit. Plus I keep borrowing it, needs more power though so a 1.8 BG Gt transplant is on the way soon. Am now after a BA-f ZXI. Will keep my 19 16v though Smile

Level 8 User Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 263

Nice collection Smile

I owned a Red 323F (1.6 SOHC w/efi) '92 for 5 years.
Still kind of miss that car Sad

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

toppin the level up a bit aint gunna make any difference...only if it is too low...and if it is too low then you would know as the pump would be wihining very loudly

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

My 16v is just below the min mark, keep meaning to top it up...

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

No it doesn't wine at all. Which also led me to believe it might be fucked. Parents old 19 used to wine on full lock (as do most cars) but mine doesn't. Ah well, seems fine so I ain't worrying

Level 7 User Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Posts: 230

Fairly simple to check can you even get it to full lock when the car is standing still if not your ps is out! if you can no problem. My 16v stears as heavy as my 1.4rt did without ps. The big difference is when you drive really slow or are standing still!

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

no i mean if ur level is TOO low the pump will whine very noisily