Intermittent power steering failure (ae92)

[~SlideWays~]

I entered a motorkhana on the weekend and the first course had a slalom. Problem was that after the first quick change of direction the steering went extremely heavy, so bad that i pulled off the course thinking the belt had fallen off.

Belt was fine so I drove it up the road and came back to try again, and it did the same thing but then I found that it returned to normal after a few seconds of driving straight.

Car is an ae92 gtz, not sure if its the standard pump though, as I've heard that the n/a ones are different.

Fuild looks a bit old and the pulley has no play that I can feel although it is slightly misaligned (little wobble). Also if stationary and on full lock the engine will bog.


Has anybody come across this before? Any suggestions?


Thanks

[Alex B]

My AE95 does this too. Common fault maybe??

[Leon]

happens all the time unfortunately

also, where did you find a motorkhana? The one in the Hutt was cancelled due to weather.

[Crucible]

Sounds like a problem with the directional valve in the rack, The pump supplys continuous pressure to this valve which directs fluid either side of the piston in the rack when the steering wheel is turned left and right.
It is situated at the top of the rack.

The engine will bog on full lock as its trying to push the piston inside the rack further than it can travel, some pumps ive seen actually have a switch on the pump that sends power to a stepper motor or idle up solenoid to increase idle speed at full lock and prevent the engine bogging. Thats why most p/s belts slip at full lock, also the cavitating noise that can be heard is the pressure relief valve bypassing.

maybe someone else has had experiance with directional valves and can help you further.

Just my 2 cents

[~SlideWays~]

True-No-Turbo, thanks that was quite helpful, btw have you got a turbo trueno by any chance? lol... if so wanna pm me some specs?

happens all the time unfortunately

also, where did you find a motorkhana? The one in the Hutt was cancelled due to weather.

Do you get it too? Its so bad on mine that its seriously hard to turn the wheel.

Motorkhana at GM carpark on Saturday with Car Constructors Club, bunch of lotus 7's 'n stuff.

I went home and got my other car then the fukin thing devoloped a water leak and over heated. Not a very successfull day.

[Leon]

Yep, I run mine out of power steering in slaloms too. It's very frustrating.

[Cahuna]

And it's not just a Toyota thing either, I have the same problem in my Sentra on slaloms. I figure it is just us driving the cars too fast and the car not being able to keep up!

[fuel]

Do either of the cars have a power steering cooler, or at least a cooling loop behind the bumper? It could be the steering fluid overheating maybe.

[Mr Revhead]

use more wheel spin, keeps the revs up therefore supplying more pressure to the pump

[Crucible]

[/quote]
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Do you get it too? Its so bad on mine that its seriously hard to turn the wheel.

Motorkhana at GM carpark on Saturday with Car Constructors Club, bunch of lotus 7's 'n stuff.

I went home and got my other car then the fukin thing devoloped a water leak and over heated. Not a very successfull day. [/quote]
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From memory Directional valves are quite complex, And use some type of tosion bar to control flow?? If it was stressed by continuious jerking left to right it may start flowing fluid to force the piston right even though you are turning left. This is why it may feel alot harder to turn than usual.

All jap cars Ive seen use this type of fluid control, not just Toyotas.

The sensation A bit like having no power assisted steering at all....... then turning the wheel against a curb!

Next time it happens..... bring the revs up and see if ya steering gets harder!!

Just my two cents, If I had a dollar I wouldnt be here


T-n-T