Power Steering - GTi 8V

[perd999]

Hi, My power steering packed up the other day(i think), Was working fine before so was a bit random - am i correct in saying it will be the pump (asked a local mechanic who had a very quick look and said most likely the pump as the fluid was not circulating round the pas fluid tank)...could it be the racK?

Also ive been told theres two types of pas pumps (one which is wider?) its a 1991 8Valver - which one whould i need 

Thanks

[Ben Lessani]

IIRC All the MK2 PAS pumps are the same - its the pulleys that differ.

Make sure the fluid is topped up, the belt is correctly tensioned and try again.

Removing the cap and turning lock to lock should pump fluid out the reservoir - that's the best remote diagnosis I can offer.

[weazgti]

Yeah i agree with ben.I got a cheap golf few years ago cos the power steering didnt work and the bloke had given up spending money on it.Drained the skanky fluid topped up with new,lock to lock and hey presto.

[perd999]

I did get it working again by revving it quite hard and turning the steering at the same time> but after a few minutes it stopped again .

So i should:
1.check all pulleys are tight:
2.remove the cap
3. turn steering full lock left & right

if this fails am i assuming its the pump 
thanks for teh quick replies

[jasonwinslow]

Yep you got it! If it's not the belt/fluid it sounds more like a pump issue than rack. Does it squeek under full lock?

[perd999]

Thats teh thing - there was no squeaking at all before it stopped working, the only thing noticeable was that it was harder to turn one way than the other...is this a sign of a pump on its way out?


also refering back to different different pulleys sizes, can i just swap over the pulley if its different from one from GSF for example?

[rubjonny]

new pump wont be supplied with a pulley anyway so yeah, swap the old one on

[perd999]

Thanks guys...will report back once its got a new pump on .

[perd999]

Forgot to update, had a second hand pump fitted and all works again...only thing is when i turn one way its harder than the other way( easy when turning left harder when turning right)

This happened before i had a replacement pump too so i think that rules the pump out?
thanks

[l333]

hi sounds like rack valves if its harder to turn one way. mine is the same but just live with it better than before i had manual steering