Power Steering in Q45, fixing the pressure valve

[ScottJackson]

Ok, I have 3 G50 Q45s. Of those, 2 have had their power steering completely go out. The first was on my active and when I bought Chopp's car, it also had no power assist even though the fluid was up and the pump belt was good. The speedometer worked just fine in both cars. The solenoid on the rack tested good. So, in both cases, I found it was the little pressure valve that goes in the hole where the high pressure hose attaches to the pump. On the active Q pump, the first bolt that needs to be removed is on the bottom. It is a 15/16" bolt (not sure of metric proper size, probably 23mm). That takes the hose off the pump. Then on the side of the pump is another bolt the same size which takes off the small piece to which the first hose was attached. Both these bolts have brass washers that you want to carefully clean and keep free of grit upon re-assembly. Anyway, after that second bolt is out, take off the steering fill cap and blow into it. It should push the valve out. The valve wears on the flat end and will stick in the bore, therefore not building up any pressure, which prevents power steering. File/sand the edge of that flat end of the valve, clean it up, and put it back in. Put the hoses back on and it should be good to go.Now, on the non active pump, the hose is attached to the side of the pump (remove it), and the other bolt is directly under the oil filter (bolted to the top of the pump). Take the engine fan off and remove the oil filter to get to that top bolt. Then stick a finger in that hole and make sure the valve is freed up and ready to come out by depressing it against the spring back and forth a few times. Blow on the steering fill opening while keeping your left hand wrapped down just above the hole where the valve is. Then the valve pops up with the fluid, grab and remove it. Do the same rounding of the edge and put it all back together. It's somewhat of a pain to put the bolt back in, through the little fitting piece on which the hose attaches, and into the bore with the pressure valve. This is because the spring that pushes against the valve must be depressed by the bolt WHILE you try to turn and thread the bolt in. Anyway, I hope this helps someone.

Oh yes, as for the filing/sanding, the idea is to round the sharp edge around the flat end of the cylindrical valve. Just round the top edge a little so it won't catch in the bore, nothing more.
Modified by ScottJackson at 7:48 AM 4/3/2007

[Q451990]

I can't really picture it, but these things make more sense when you're actually doing them. I'm sure this will help someone!

Heath

[myavar]

Is it easier to take the Power Steering pump off and work on the pressure control valve or do it like you said on the engine?

[ScottJackson]

I'd say that it would take less time to fix it like I described (pull valve, round the edge a bit, and put back together) than the time it would take just to completely remove the steering pump.

To make it more clear, there is a small right angle bracket that attaches directly to the pump. Onto this bracket is where the steering line connects with a single large bolt. The line must be first removed from the bracket. Then, there is one big bolt holding the bracket to the pump. Inside the hole where that same big bolt came out is the pressure valve. Directly below that is the spring which pushes on the valve. When you take out that bracket bolt, the spring will push it up. However, the spring isn't long enough to push the valve itself out of the pump. This is why you need to blow on the fluid to push the valve out to the point that it can be grabbed.

[myavar]

ScottJackson thanks for the feedback. I will try and tackle it this weekend.

[elwesso]

scott..

I want to verify this for myself and for others. Is this what we're talking about?

This diagram is from a standard PS pump.

[ScottJackson]

Yup, #7 is the one. As looking from the front (pulley to the right is front) it looks in that picture like it's rotated 90* counter clockwise from the position it is in the car. In the car (with standard suspension, non active) there is a hose that is locked into #9 on the side of the pump and the bolt that holds on #9 (the bolt directly above #7) is on top of the pump, directly below the oil filter. That hose needs removed before removing #9 itself to get to #7.

[drftard]

wOw i think this is 1 of the things i've been look'n for! sweet west! search button works if u get it right...

hopefully someone has some pictures to contribute... i still dunno the location but definatelly will give it a shot this weekend for sure! THANKS GUYs!