power steering

[dubslug]

  right not happy, it rains all day and then i go to drive home only for the power steering to play up, when turning it feels like it jams and becomes really heavy, any ideas as to why??it only happens in the wet but not all the time
no belt squeal or anything like that, belt is three months old too

plz help its not fun on roundabts

[16v Matt]

Does it only happen when it rains??

[Mk1Mad J - 16v]

I'd check the belt, it won't necessarily squeal when loose especially if its wet, its usually worn belts that squeal

[dubslug]

as far as i can tell its not loose either

[rubjonny]

MK2 PAS is notorious for not being able to put enough tension on the belt, due to bent bolts underneath.
There is also a splash guard you can get which helps prevent the belts getting wet, check out the part numbers thread

I got mine off a late Jetta in my local scrappy for some reason it seems VW put all the splash guards on em even if they didnt have power steering, they even got little extra splash guards which go on the bumper under the fog lights!.

[Veedubgt18v]

also check the rubber boots on the rod ends where they go into the steering rack are intact cos if they arent water gets in and creates hydraulic lock in the gears in the steering rack causing the dodgy heaviness. used to do it in my old driver in the wet

[dubslug]

looks like one of the brackets for the pump has snapped??
could this cause this, belt is still tight
cheers ed will look at them next tiem the old girl is up in the aur again

[rubjonny]

let me know which one, I've got most of a kit spare