Renault Clio power steering fluid

[Rave]

Embarrasingly, I didn't realise that my mum's Clio has power steering. Anyway, it's stopped working 'cos the fluid level is low. I know sweet FA about power steering so if anyone could point me towards the type of stuff I need to top it up I'd be grateful.....that is if allowing the fluid to run low hasn't killed it. Is it a specific type of fluid? Or do you use DOT-4 clutch/brake fluid or something?

[Tumble]

Think I put ATF in mine when i changed the resevoir.. can't remember... I did the putting on, and Al filled it up ATF = Automatic Transmission Fluid....

[Konan555]

Yeah - most PS is filled with Automatic transmission stuff.

[Rave]

Sounds easy enough. I'll pop to Halfords sometime this week then. Cheers guys.

[Jiff Lemon]

after topping it up, start the car and turn it lock to lock several times just in case it's got low enough to pull air into the system

[Rave]

Well it's completely stopped working, so I reckon that's pretty likely. Cheers as always Jiff.

[Rave]

Bump: went into Halfords today and there appear to be two types of ATF- GM and Ford. Which do I need? The oil in the reservior appeared to be clear if that's any help.

[Tumble]

afaik it's all the same goop.... the stuff i use is bright pink

[Rave]

That's Ford then I think. The bottle reckoned the two types should not be intermixed; whether it actually matters for power steering applications I don't know.

[Konan555]

IIRC Halfrauds have a book around the fluids section letting you know the appropriate one for ech vehicle.

[Rave]

I'll have shufty later then. It's pretty annoying that it doesn't tell you in the car's handbook TBH (at least not as far as I could see).

[Konan555]

Did the PS pump not make nasty grinding noises when it was running low?

[Rave]

It's my Mum's car, so I've not driven it since before it went wrong. Apparently it just suddenly stopped working. However, before that, it was making a nasty knocking noise when going round left hand bends, we assumed it was the wheel bearing which was then changed. There's a small chance it could have been the PS pump but I don't see why it would only have happened when turning in one direction.

TBH, my Mum and brother have even less mechanical sympathy than me, so I'm not at all surprised they didn't spot it.

[Tumble]

if it's knocking, only round left-hand turns, then it's likely to be the CV joint thats giving up the ghost.. wheel bearings tend to make the brake disc sing going round corners as the wheel settles into the worn bit going round the corner. Nice way of testing if it's the bearing is make it make the noise and dab the brake gently, if it goes away, it's the bearing (or the disc mounting)

[Rave]

Well the noise has been cured in my Mum's car I think, but I'll be applying that test to my own can which makes a hissing noise going round corners. Cheers mate.

[Konan555]

Ahhh - the hissing is a PS issue, can't quite remember what at the moment tho.