Steering Stiff on Start
#1
Steering Stiff on Start
Ok, so I could be incredibly stupid and just be low on steering fluid in my 89 XJ6, but every time I start the car, the steering column is so stuff that I can't move the wheel hardly at all. I have to wrestle with the steering wheel until I feel it "snap" and loosen up. Warming up the vehicle makes no difference, and it is worse in cold weather, however it does happen in hot weather. Any suggestions?
#2
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Ok, so I could be incredibly stupid and just be low on steering fluid in my 89 XJ6, but every time I start the car, the steering column is so stuff that I can't move the wheel hardly at all. I have to wrestle with the steering wheel until I feel it "snap" and loosen up. Warming up the vehicle makes no difference, and it is worse in cold weather, however it does happen in hot weather. Any suggestions?
You do need to check the power steering fluid level. The Haynes manual shows how. The reservoir is under the hood near the right wheel well. A common indication of low fluid is a "groaning" noise from the steering system. If you find the fluid is low, check for leaking fluid under the reservoir and at the pump (to find the pump, follow the large diameter hose from the reservoir down toward the lower front of the engine). The most common fluid leak point is the low-pressure hose from the reservoir to the pump. The photos at the link below show our '93, which is a little different from your '89, but the principle is the same:
Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Check the tension of the main drive belt that powers the alternator, water pump and power steering pump. If it's loose, you may not be getting full power assist.
Some owners have needed to rebuild their power steering pumps - I don't know if the rebuild kits are still available, but hopefully this won't be your issue.
Cheers,
Don
Last edited by Don B; 05-22-2015 at 11:37 AM.
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93SB (05-28-2015)
#3
I think there was a TSB about this fault about 20 something years ago but I don't remember the details. I looked through my TSBs in .pdf but it might be in a paper form that never got put into a digital format. (not all Jaguar TSBs were)
There are HUNDREDS of TSBs from the early 'paper days' that are not digitized and are kinda lost to obscurity.
It sounds like the valves in the steering rack are 'sticky' and you might try to flush the PAS system. An additive for Auto gearboxes that has a slight solvent might help if the valves are 'gummed-up'??
You could try the additive and if it helped, then flush the system with new fluid.
I think the solution 'back-in-the-day' was to replace the steering rack assy.
Try more research??
bob gauff
There are HUNDREDS of TSBs from the early 'paper days' that are not digitized and are kinda lost to obscurity.
It sounds like the valves in the steering rack are 'sticky' and you might try to flush the PAS system. An additive for Auto gearboxes that has a slight solvent might help if the valves are 'gummed-up'??
You could try the additive and if it helped, then flush the system with new fluid.
I think the solution 'back-in-the-day' was to replace the steering rack assy.
Try more research??
bob gauff
The following users liked this post:
93SB (05-28-2015)
#4
#5
#6
I just rebuilt the rack and I was hoping that problem is in different place, but most likely and logically it is rack. Are Adwest easy interchangeble with ZF? I have zf on other xj40 that is going to garbage.
#7
Mine does this ..
Ok, so I could be incredibly stupid and just be low on steering fluid in my 89 XJ6, but every time I start the car, the steering column is so stuff that I can't move the wheel hardly at all. I have to wrestle with the steering wheel until I feel it "snap" and loosen up. Warming up the vehicle makes no difference, and it is worse in cold weather, however it does happen in hot weather. Any suggestions?
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