pol's guide to quiet power steering

pol · Post by **pol** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 10:24 pm

Well did something i've been meaning to try for a while now and so far it's worked very well. Making my power steering stop sounding like a clubbed seal.

Here's all I had to do:

1) Get down Volvo and buy some Â£7.20(ish) ATF fluid for the power steering. Give them the year and model etc and they'll look up the type. (It's the pink stuff).

2) Open the bonet and locate the power steering reservoir.

3) Disconnect the hose on the side of the reservoir (the return feed), and connect a suitable container to collect the oil (I made a bit of a mess).

4) Start the engine and make sure you are catching all the oil.

5) Turn the steering wheel lock to lock several times to pump out the juice. (Probably easier with the wheels raised)

6) Stop the engine

7) Refit the return hose

8 ) Top up reservoir with new oil to max mark

9) Turn steering wheel lock to lock several times

10) Start the engine

11) top up reservoir

12) Turn steering wheel lock to lock a few times again.

Keep doing the last few steps until the reservoir level doesn't drop anymore.

Job done.

pol

Website · Post by **coyote1980** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 8:36 am

Wow

Nice job!

Will add it to the FAQ surely

Bramdeman · Post by **Bramdeman** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 2:36 pm

Perhaps even cheaper.....use transmission oil (the red kind)... Never had to get everything out just topping it off did the trick twice for me.

volvofox · Post by **volvofox** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 5:57 pm

and it is a good idea to run the power steering pump with no oil ?

maybe this is the way it should go.... maybe, I hope for you. (how do things like v*dis, haynes or vraagbaak discribe the changing of the oil ? )

I think its best to use original oil, as thats what the seals are built for, and also the viscosity (the thickness of the fluid)

anyways thanks pol

john hotchkiss · Post by **john hotchkiss** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 6:07 pm

gonna give it a go tomm pol wish me luck

pol · Post by **pol** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 7:51 pm

Well haynes describes no way of bleeding the system. All it says is that bleeding is only required when a part of the system has been removed. Their method for bleeding is just topping up what has been lost.

I'm sure it can do no harm, especially with the wheels off the ground the system is under little strain. Air just replaces the fluid, then vice-versa.

Good luck john, I found a wine bottle was a good catcher in the end. Got to catch 0.7 litres so a bottle of some sort is good. I bought a can of 'Gunk' afterwards as i'd 'oiled' everything!

I used the original Volvo stuff as reccomended by someone on this forum (forget who, sorry) who said other types didn't help, but topping up with Volvo stuff cured it - The type code Volvo gave me was 'AF4G'. Just standard ATF oil - The pink stuff...

Anyway, my power steering is quiet now so i'm very pleased and would reccomend it to anyone with the noisy steering.

pol

Ben Harris · Post by **Ben Harris** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 10:17 pm

VADIS doesn't say anything about draining the steering system, other than "Disconnect the delivery line on the pump and collect the escaping fluid."

This is what is has to say about re-filling it:

Fill the power steering hydraulic fluid reservoir and bleed the hydraulic system
Fill the fluid reservoir of the power steering pump.
Turn the steering wheel from left to right and topâ€“up the fluid reservoir while turning the wheel.
Start the engine, turn the steering wheel from lock to lock and keep the hydraulic fluid level toppedâ€“up.
Turn the steering wheel slowly and smoothly from lock to lock a few times.
Take the vehicle for a test drive and check the steering gear for correct functioning and for abnormal noise.
Check the fluid level and topâ€“up as necessary to the correct level. Switch off the engine.
Fluid: ATF type A/A.
Note! if the hydraulic fluid has a light (milky) colour, this indicates the presence of too much air; in this case wait until the fluid has regained its normal colour before driving the vehicle.

Models with airâ€“conditioning

Install the hydraulic power steering pump
Locate the pump together with the brackets and fit and tighten the pivot bolt with hand pressure only.
Fit the adjusting nut.

Ben.

pol · Post by **pol** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:40 am

Didn't realise VADIS had detailed stuff like that. Thought it was just pics and part codes...

Oh well...

If you have a look at where the feed / return lines on the pump are, you'll see why I disconnected the return at the reservoir! Not much room down there.

If you dont run the engine and pump, I doubt much old fluid will escape.

pol

john hotchkiss · Post by **john hotchkiss** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:01 am

guys soz for sounding a wee bit daft but what is and where do i get this vadis

pol · Post by **pol** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 12:14 pm

VADIS is the software volvo use for parts diagnostics and it seems instructions for stuff. I get told off for asking for the unmentionable software (but still want a copy

)...

See the hall of shame...

pol

Website · Post by **coyote1980** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:13 am

And it was such a nice and peaceful thread...

Andy440 · Post by **Andy440** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 2:47 pm

The ATF pump will be broken if it has to work dry...

pol · Post by **pol** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:55 pm

Mine is fine. And quiet. Decided it was worth trying.

pol

robkendall · Post by **robkendall** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 9:34 am

john hotchkiss wrote:guys soz for sounding a wee bit daft but what is and where do i get this vadis

found an interesting paper on vadis...explains a lot about what it is etc.
NOT A DL LINK!!
http://www.viktoria.se/~danne/Paper/VADIS_PA4.pdf

purely info on what it is and does etc

regards
rob

bbf · Post by **bbf** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 9:47 am

for those who don't know where and what:
http://www.autocd.com/autocd.html
or read
http://www.vvspy.com/frameset.php?bn=volvospy_general

yeah, thanks..

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:33 pm

Well finally did my change of fluid today also,the Pol method prevailed!

Drives beautifully now,helped by having new front shockers just put in on the weekend!

I added abouthalf a teacup of Lubegard to the ATF to preserve it.I was probably doing the wrong thing here,as Im about to check if they do a power steering aditive.Im 99% sure they do!

But hey!No noises and old fluid was,after 102k,only a kinda Flame Red!

BlueCruiser · Post by **BlueCruiser** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 12:49 pm

Catgroom, did you use the proper Volvo ATF as recommended, or any other one in particular?

Guess I'll have a try over the weekend..thanks!

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 1:23 pm

Hello Mate!

I used an unbranded Dexron 2 type,Dexron 3 is also okay.I added some Lubegard Transmission protectant to that ATF.

She's feeling good still!

Steve.

Volvo 480 Club Europe

pol's guide to quiet power steering

pol's guide to quiet power steering

Don't pour the ATF out of the system with the engine running

.

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