Power Steering question

[q45t96]

I have a 1996 Q45 with 127,000 miles. In the morning when it is cold my steering is stiff. I have check the power steering fluid level and it is good. When the car is warmed up it goes away. The local tech I use thinks it might be the rack and pinion. From reading other posts, this does not sound right. Although, the posts that I read didn't talk about steering problems in the cold. Some of the posts with somewhat similar situations have suggested the power steering module. Any help on what it is and suggested repairs would be appreciated.

[911/Q45]

If your PS fluid has never been flushed, then your rack is probably bad as your tech said. They will bind when cold first as they fail.

[elwesso]

Its probably worth trying a flush to see if maybe you could get some stuff out of there...

IMHO its worth the risk of $50 to potentially put off however much a rack is (liek 500 or so?)... Generally, at least how ive seen, they leak REAL BAD before they start binding.....

[Q451990]

There is a u-joint that connects the steering column shaft to the rack input. Pull that and see if it moves freely. A little notchy is probably OK, but the one on Q1 was frozen and caused the exact symptoms you describle. It's not a common failure item, but it happened to me. I think it worked better after warm-up because it's so close to the pre-cat so the heat may have loosened it up a little.

Good luck!

Heath

[q45t96]

Since I don't have a dealer in town, who do you recommend to do a flush. Would a Jiffy Lube have the right equipment. What is the best fluid to use to refill. Thanks for your help.

[3rd Q]

The Q ps system uses trans fluid - synthetic is preferred. You can do it yourself by disconnecting the return line - thin one coming out bottom of the reservoir- and directing it into a bucket while moving the steering wheel back and forth and adding fresh fluid.

[maxnix]

Since I don't have a dealer in town, who do you recommend to do a flush. Would a Jiffy Lube have the right equipment. What is the best fluid to use to refill. Thanks for your help.

Look for a Snap-On jobber's truck and ask the vendor who has the Sun flush machine. A gallon of M1 ATF will get it thoroughly flushed.

[Q45tech]

I compare the PS fluid COLOR frequently against brand new reference color.

After about 3-6 months the color starts to change showing the extreme conditions the system operates under [pressure and shear] compared to the same fluid used as ATF.

Small volume vs heat load and inadequate PS cooler in the South.

I just suck out some [25%] EVERY 90 days and refill, other than a few leaky hoses [the cheap ones] I still have the same rack and pump as installed in Japan 15 years ago after 274k of use........off course sets of new rack boots but same seals.

Changing rack boots within 30 days of cracking [before dirt gets onto rack arms] and proper treatment in between doubles everything's life.

Flushing probably twice when hoses changed over the years.

[texasoil]

I agree with Q45tech--changing PS fluid regularly, renewing cracked boots, will result in 300K mile life as new for the steering rack.

[Q451990]

Not to discount flushing the system - that's a very important maintenence issue - but I'd still check that u-joint I mentioned earlier. Like I said - exactly the same symptoms.

Heath