Vauxhall Vectra PAS failure at low revs

[CIS]

2000 X-Reg Vectra LS 1.8i 16v

When I start the car from cold the power steering is fine, nice and light althought it is a bit noisey on full lock

The problem starts to occur as the engine warms....

When you have driven a few miles and come to park in a tight spot you begin to turn the wheel and the power just disappears, If you rev the car you do get power back but not as effective as when the car is cold

The isle speed seems to jump from about 750 to 1450 sometimes when the car is warm also

I thought it maybe a loose alternator belt (which drives the PAS pump) but all electronics seem OK and the arcon (which uses the same belt) is fine also.

Anyone got any suggestions ???

[dave87]

I was going to say it may be the belt slipping on the PAS Pump, but it would be odd if the other associated mechanics are working fine

[CIS]

They do seem to work fine but the belt does have a fair bit of play in it

I thought maybe the heat of the engine warming up might be making the belt slip

Any idea if vectras are usually noisy onm full lock??

I got the car in January and I'm sure it wasn't so noisey then

It even maks a bit of noise when just turning the wheel before you even get to lock

[dave87]

It could be that with the belt being loose, it slips under any resistance (which the PAS would do) but with the aircon it isn't as restricted, so still works. In which case a new belt/adjustment of the old one (I thought they adjusted themselves automatically) should solve the problem.

Dave

[GoNz0]

for the fiver its going to cost, slap a new belt on there, thats nomally all it is.

[CIS]

Cheers chaps - I'll get a new belt and give it a try

[GoNz0]

it is a bit of a process of elimination, 1st the belt (around a fiver), then the tensioner pulley (around a tenner) 3rd would be contaminated fluid (should be red and oily) and 4th could be a failing pump.

but if you havn't followed the service ritual its best to start with the most common culprits and work your way up. changing all of the 1st 3 is less that the diagnostic at most places

[CIS]

I've had te car serviced at the garage I purchased it from once so far after 10K miles from purchase mileage (43000)

It had a new cam belt just before I bought it as well but maybe they just reused the old alternator belt

I have had the fluid changed and they gave it a flush though too.

I'l get the belt and give it a try as I'm not too keen on forking out for a new pump (

But if it were the pump do you reckon that it would work when the engine is cold - I was of the thinking that if it were the pump then it would be struggling all the time. Maybe that is just wishful thinking on my part ;o)

Cheers ...

[GoNz0]

thats why im thinking belt due to it working ok at cold, things warm and expand, any grease thats worked onto the belt will thin out and help it slip etc.