Date:         Wed, 10 Aug 2005 14:50:17 -0400
Reply-To:     Tim Demarest <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tim Demarest <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
Subject:      Re: groan when turning steering wheel
Comments: To: Don Williams <williams@FIRE.BIOL.WWU.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <4.3.1.20050810105416.00b1b850@fire.biol.wwu.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Don,

         I used to get that all the time, just at idle speed when I first
started my van...

         I haven't heard the groan lately, but two things have happened
since I last did, either one could be the reason I don't hear it anymore:

         1. My throttle switch went bad, so I "mis-adjusted" it to err on
the side of "running" instead of "idling"... this gives me a high idle most
of the time (the switch seems to be 'sticky'), but I can pull away from a
stop sign without bogging down.

         2. I rebuilt my P/S pump... did this along with putting in Frank
C's hose kit in place of the steel lines which had rusted out, dumped the
fluid, and cooked the pump. Naturally, I also totally replaced the P/S
fluid as a consequence of this... so that's another variable to consider.

         These both happened around the same time, and if I ever get around
to installing the replacement idle switch, I'll find out if the groan comes
back at a normal idle, or if the pump rebuild provided enough of a pressure
difference to prevent the groaning.

         In my case, the groaning did not seem to indicate a bad rack,
because it's been over a year since I heard the last groan, and I haven't
had any problems with the rack, or difficult steering (of course, YMMV).

         If I recall, the pump rebuild kit was in the 30-40 dollar range
from Bus Depot, and the Bentley instructions were clear and simple to
follow. I've never rebuilt a P/S pump before or since, but this one seems
to be holding up (maybe because I now have a spare... no part will break if
you have a replacement handy :-).

Tim


At 10:56 AM 8/10/2005 -0700, Don Williams wrote:
>When I start 85 westy and turn the steering wheel there is an intermittant
>groan associated with the process.  Driving down the road, there is no
>problem.  I am wondering if my power steering is going, and what I can do
>about it.