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The no-power-steer Astra

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Ex-Bay

SNAFU master
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I have an 03 Astra Diesel 1.7CDTi.

I was driving home last night and there occurred a small nightmare; my power steering stopped powering and the red 'charge' light came on, and I heard what could best be described as a 'strange humming noise' . Those who recall ill-suppessed car ignition when an AM radio is fitted may know the sound, but it wasn't as harsh. It did waver with the engine revs, though.

I managed to manually get the thing the last 8 or so miles, blessing heaven that the traffic was light.

This morning I checked for the usual suspects; Hydraulic fluid, fuses and any interesting belt that wasn't. Nothing doing.

I made the assumption that the steering IS hydraulic, not electric, but now I'm not so sure, in view of the 'charge' lamp.

Any ideas before I spend a fortune in the local garage, please ?


:PDT_Xtremez_43:
​
 
Power steering fluid level in the reservoir?
Correct tension of power steering drive belt?
Power steering pump shagged?



Having said that I would recheck the aux drive belt. If that isnt spinning correctly it wouldnt run your alternator fast enough or your power steering pump. The humming could be the belt sat in one place whilst the pulleys whizz on one point.
I had that with a cam belt once. Luckily it just stayed in one position and didnt wreck the engine!
 
Sounds very similar to a problem I had on a Peugot 207, Crankshaft pulley had a cush drive which gave out so the belt looks and is intact however there is no belt drive from the crank to the ancillary units, eg. power steering and alternator.

Modified Peugot replacement was a solid steel pulley wheel.

Check the belt for drive with the motor running(all H&S requirements included) don't check the tension while running with your fingers like a 3 fingered sooty snec did.
 
Thanks chaps.

I've had a look at the only visible fan belt and it seems ok (I assume there's another one hidden somewhere for the OHC thingy). Tension seems fine (and it was still!). It drives the alternator and the AirCon Coolant pump.

Battery voltage is 11.85v and does not change with engine revs (charging lamp still on).

There's a plastic bottle thing right down the back behind the engine on the bulkhead. There seems to be fluid inside it. I assume this is for the steering.

There's also a curious thing at the top of the bulkhead marked IN, OUT (with pipes) and an electrical connection which also has 11.85v thereon. I can't hear or feel any extra movement, if it's supposed to be a pump. I originally thought it was a filter.

There's no easy access to the Alternator, as is is hidden behind the engine tray, so I cannot check the diodes or connections.


I have a nasty suspicion that this is going to cost me a fair bit. . . . . .
 
I had pretty much exactly the same happen to my Focus about 4 weeks ago. Turned out that the charge light wasn't the 'charge light' but twas the 'brake warning' light and the fluid level in the power steering reservoir was merely low. Check your car manual and confirm what the lamp is, where the reservoir is and top it up... then start looking for the leaks on your power steering system; replacing the pipes on that is the expensive bit - 2 pipes for the missuses Fiesta cost about 60 quid 7 weeks ago (strange how things occur in twos or threes!)
 
Ex-Bay said:
Thanks chaps.

I've had a look at the only visible fan belt and it seems ok (I assume there's another one hidden somewhere for the OHC thingy). Tension seems fine (and it was still!). It drives the alternator and the AirCon Coolant pump.

Battery voltage is 11.85v and does not change with engine revs (charging lamp still on).

There's a plastic bottle thing right down the back behind the engine on the bulkhead. There seems to be fluid inside it. I assume this is for the steering.

There's also a curious thing at the top of the bulkhead marked IN, OUT (with pipes) and an electrical connection which also has 11.85v thereon. I can't hear or feel any extra movement, if it's supposed to be a pump. I originally thought it was a filter.

There's no easy access to the Alternator, as is is hidden behind the engine tray, so I cannot check the diodes or connections.


I have a nasty suspicion that this is going to cost me a fair bit. . . . . .
Click to expand...

There were certain models of Astra that had Electric power steering pumps on them. What does your book say????
 
Ex-Bay said:
Thanks chaps.

I've had a look at the only visible fan belt and it seems ok (I assume there's another one hidden somewhere for the OHC thingy). Tension seems fine (and it was still!). It drives the alternator and the AirCon Coolant pump.

Battery voltage is 11.85v and does not change with engine revs (charging lamp still on).

There's a plastic bottle thing right down the back behind the engine on the bulkhead. There seems to be fluid inside it. I assume this is for the steering.

There's also a curious thing at the top of the bulkhead marked IN, OUT (with pipes) and an electrical connection which also has 11.85v thereon. I can't hear or feel any extra movement, if it's supposed to be a pump. I originally thought it was a filter.

There's no easy access to the Alternator, as is is hidden behind the engine tray, so I cannot check the diodes or connections.


I have a nasty suspicion that this is going to cost me a fair bit. . . . . .
Click to expand...

The charging voltage should be higher than that, about 13.75V is a number in the back of my head. So the charge light would seem to be correct. The light comes on when the battery voltage is higher that the alternator voltage. ie. not charging the battery.
 
Shugster said:
The charging voltage should be higher than that, about 13.75V is a number in the back of my head. So the charge light would seem to be correct. The light comes on when the battery voltage is higher that the alternator voltage. ie. not charging the battery.
Click to expand...


Well, 13.8, actually, but it matters little. The voltage applied when running is generally about 14v, but not on this one this time.

--
Bowmeister:
There were certain models of Astra that had Electric power steering pumps on them. What does your book say????

Absolutely nothing!
---
Tek Wal:-

Turned out that the charge light wasn't the 'charge light' but twas the 'brake warning' light and the fluid level in the power steering reservoir was merely low.

Well, the annunciator in front of the light is a battery. But it may well be worth checking just in case. If the plastic bottle low down on the bulkhead IS the fluid reservoir, then there's fluid right close to the top.

----

Thanks for the pointers so far, guys.
More as I get it.


:PDT_Xtremez_14:
 
Haynes manual: on order.
Garage?. It's in now. They tell me that the Alternator's fugged.
I still don't know why the steering failed, though. I've sent an e-mail to Vauxhall for an answer. Just of information, you understand.

cup of corrrfeee
 
I have to say that I am rather surprised at the price of an Alternator these days; even with one which also features a vacuum pump. For yes, indeed the old (??) alternator had wound it's last erg and cooked.

A new one (which also fixed the steering on account of the electric pump for the steering), set me back nigh on £300.

There's a lesson there, somewhere.

All I have to do now if to somehow find the code for the radio. . . . . . .

Thanks for the help, chaps.

:PDT_Xtremez_14:
 
Just hope it wasn't a fault on the electric pump, which took the alternator out in the first place.
Good luck, mate.
 
5 years for an alternator?! I'll bet it's just the brushes that have worn down and the Vauxhall dealer has gone and charged (pardon the pun) you 300 quid for a new alternator! Make sure you get the old one back, stick a new set of brushes in it (probably set you back less than a tenner!!) and then get it on Ebay - you should be able to recoup a fair bit of your £300 maybe.
 
Last edited:
A recon unit, complete with the vacuum pump is £196.
Since the cost of metals, especially copper have risen fast, I can't find too much wrong. If I'd had the time, tools, and inclination, I might have gone to a scrapyard, but frankly, changing the thing is not easy. the belt is a grooved special requiring strange STT tools.

Incidentally, the one that came out was made by Hitachi, 12v 1000A. No wonder it's a special belt. . .


cup of corrrfeee
 
Ex-Bay said:
A recon unit, complete with the vacuum pump is £196.
Since the cost of metals, especially copper have risen fast, I can't find too much wrong. If I'd had the time, tools, and inclination, I might have gone to a scrapyard, but frankly, changing the thing is not easy. the belt is a grooved special requiring strange STT tools.

Incidentally, the one that came out was made by Hitachi, 12v 1000A. No wonder it's a special belt. . .


cup of corrrfeee
Click to expand...

I would go back to the garage and question their prices............
http://www.onlineautomotive.co.uk/p..._id=2155&type=part&table=11&source=googlebase

I dont mind someone making a living, but some of them go too far.
 
MrMasher said:
You may be looking at the wrong one there mate.
Try this from the same site.
There are 2 listed for the 1.7 CDTI Astra. I think Grumpy got the wrong year/mark of car.
Click to expand...

That appears to be an exhaust, mate.

I've just changed the alt. on my frontera and only paid £69, and that's heavy duty.
 
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