92 Q45 Power Steering issue

[jayhotdaynot]

I replaced the rack resently, with a used one i got out of a buddys Q.. That was about a month ago. like a couple days ago, i was drveing and changing laned and the steerinf felt heavy. like it was low on fluid.. but just for a little while.. it went back to normal. the flud levels were a little low, nothing to complain about but i filled it still.. like a day later i was making a right turn regular speed and it didnt recover regularly. it felt like it locked for a second, the wheel got heavy again.. fluid levels are the same as when i filled it the other day.. soo im thinking pump issues, but i hear no whining or noise when i turn the wheel.. even when its a little heavy.. What could the problem be.. Help me nico

[silver2k2]

It could be the power steering solenoid. Is the fluid dirty, thats usually the cause. You can flush the system and see if that fixes it. There is a pretty good diagnostic procedure in the FSM. I just bought a reman pump for mine and it was 175 bucks not bad.

[silver2k2]

Does anyone know how much a solenoid is from Joe?

[Q45tech]

Solenoids rarely fail and they would read open or short resistance. They could be varnished or have no continuity back to rack controller.

[jayhotdaynot]

the fluid is actualy clean.. how do i flush it? today the steering felt heavy.. not like theres no powersteering, theres just verry little help..drove for an hr.. parked up, driveng back home for lke 1/2 hr and, poof out of no where the steering got back to regular, untill i got near my house, and it started acting up again

[maxnix]

the fluid is actualy clean.. how do i flush it?

So, one must now ask what is "clean" as there is no maintenance history offered, so one may presuem it has never been mechanically exchanged.

There are two ways to do it mechanically. One is a continuous scavenge and refill from the top, the other is to connect to the low pressure side to completely scavenge the steering rack. The latter is necessary if the fuid is not pristine or if there are any deposits in the rack.

Since the fuid amount is so small and the steering unit can be highly stressed in urban driving, any level of fuid below full is cause for concern of the heatlth of the system.

[Q45tech]

Monitor the voltage vs speed [from the steering controller] as shown in FSM at the Consult adapter port............................erratic voltage [not following speed] = electronic problem.

Pretty common to eventually replace the controller module.

[ScottJackson]

I posted in the infiniti online mechanic forum about the pressure control valve in the steering pump that likes to stick. I described pretty well (or so I think) how to take it out, round the edge that likes to stick, and put it back together. I'll see if I can find that post.

Edit: Thar she be!

zerothread?id=239910

[jayhotdaynot]

Heres the story.. the old rack went out ( leaking at the boot) took a while for me to get around to replaceing it (built a couple muscles in that time) but wen i did replace it, a week or 2 later the return hose(i think- the fat one the goes down from the reservuar) was broken letting all the fluid out daily. soo i i got a hose and replaced and she was good to go.. that was about 2 months ago... soo i guess the system got flushed out a couple times when the fluid would leak all the way out. soo the fluid is clean cause its new..

im gonna try to bleed it today , and see if that will fix it.. if that dont work then im gonna have to do that thing in the post, to clean the valve.. i hope the bleeding works cause that other thing sounds like hell..

And Q45 Tech, do do that voltige check by where you plug in the computer for diagnostic? and whats the FSM im lost

[ScottJackson]

Factory Service Manual. Shoulda came with the car. Thick book with thin pages and lots of info. I almost bet it's the pressure regulator valve in the pump though. It's not too hard to get at. 4 bolts for the fan, take filter off, 15/16" bolt removed from side of pump (easiest to get from under the car), 15/16" bolt from just under where the oil filter was, and that's where it is. It's hard and takes some good rubbing with sandpaper and/or a file to round the top circumference.

Edit: I ended a sentence with a preposition. I'm sorry! I'll try to not let it happen again.
Modified by ScottJackson at 11:44 PM 5/26/2007

[Q45tech]

We should have a method to enforce the mandate of members having a FSM [or access to one] rather that they constant rehashing of the need for one.

I cannot imagine how one could/would work on a car without some technical manual.

Owners and mechanics cause more difficulties than the age wear and tear alone.

Facilitating their dependence by posting sections/ pages when they can download the useful 94 manual.........................

No Pain No Gain!

[maxnix]

Facilitating their dependence by posting sections/ pages when they can download the useful 94 manual.........................

Pablum only tastes good when it is on a spoon that someone else is controlling.

Too little knowledge is a dangerous thing. One can never acquire too much knowledge.

[DavidS]

I've a similar problem of erratic steering forces in my 1990. I've been told the problem is the electronics.

I've looked at the FSM and find the connector to the module but would like some guidance about getting to it. What needs to be removed to access it?

[mortimer9]

Guru,read your post addressing power steering failure.My 96Q45 brakes fail intermitently and the speedometer becomes inoperative at the sametime,then both return.Fluid levels somewhat lower though in range.I noticed some coalesed yellowish fluid the last time I filled the reservoir.What causes this? kevjn