Vauxhall Electric Power Steering Pump

[XTR]

Electric power steering pumps...........

We've never heard of them before... but apparently the mark 4 Vauxhall Astra has an electric power steering pump.

Recently my mams astra has been having a problem with the power steering. When you first start the car up... the power steering isnt working. But as soon as ya leave the car for a few minutes it works.

The battery on the car isn't too clever so we are guessing that the battery is on its last legs, and not good enough to power the power steering pump until the alternator gives it some extra juice.........

Have you heard of this problem before Zak or other Vauxhall chappies....

Its around £180 for a new electric power steering pump, or £30 for a new battery

Much prefer to just change the battery as we are wanting rid of the car to buy something a little more Cooler! New Beetle.

[Howard]

When the engine is running the alternator powers everything doesn't it? So it might not be the battery

[Swafe]

Aint got a clue mate, but when we bought our car, we were quoted specs for power and non power assisted models, the PAS had 2mpg less than that of the non PAS version.....so it burns fuel to power the assisted steering, or at least it does in my car.

Maybe thats the problem, something with power not being transmitted instantly, and once the engines warm and making plenty of power....then its got enough to sort itself out ?

[XTR]

My uncle owns a garage and sells used cars.... The cars are parked on the forecourt and put away in the garage every night. He had an Astra and the battery started going funny as it wasn't being ran, just drove in and out the garage.... Battery started going flat and the PAS went off....

Not sure if its a concidence... wouldn't mind hearing Zaks views if he knows owt....

[TeePee]

Vauxhall, or at least GM, make a power steering system thats entirely electric and that looks a lot like a starter motor attached to the steering column. It uses sensors to assist the driver. It's supposed to be pretty good, and its also adjustable to give as much assistance as the driver requires. It can even be turned off for track days etc, without increasing the effort required to steer as with a hydraulic system.

[Konan555]

It depends on the rating of the alternator and how much a flat battery's loading it. My guess would've been if there's enough juice to turn the motor over it wouldn't be that bad?

[Zak33]

EPS can be "hard work" for a split sceond when you switch on, but on a Mk4 Astra it shouldnt be noticeable. On Corsa B (once it gained EPS) you could literally use up the voltage stored in the built in capacitor by whirling the wheel while parking and the PAS got heavier and heavier but that was sorted on Corsa C.

A new CAR battery is a high probability, but I'd suggest you borrow one from your own car and try it first. No point buying a new one if it wont sort the problem

Sounds to me as though it may be a weak ALTERNATOR not chucking out enough power immediately after start up

The Steering pumps have been known to fail. amd they can go slowly, and more often they're complained about for being noisy on older cars, and there's nowt to do to improve that noise, but none of that helps here cos none of that is adefinate answer
sorry.

Battery SWAP first, then new battery if needed and then PAS pump.

[DigiGuru]

Am I wrong in presuming that it is essentially an electric motor that runs a belt then?

Some things I'd presume though:
1.) If the battery has enough juice to start the car, try the following:
- Start the car at night in front of a wall
- Turn on your headlights
- Rev your engine and see how much brighter the lights get
I found that's a reasonable way to see if your battery is dying.

2.) I think there is a belt that goes from the PAS pump to the steering column, but not 100% sure... if there is, the belt could be getting old and drying out, so only getting proper grip when it has warmed up?

A good place to ask this kind of question would be on the cavweb forums (http://www.cavweb-forums.co.uk) as there are alot of Astra, Cavalier, Calibra and Vectra drivers on there and the PAS is essentially the same across alot of Vauxhalls (I drive a Vectra, by the way)

Stu

[XTR]

Sorry forgot to update ya's all on this problem.... we put a new battery on the car and it sorted the problem