Vectra 04 - Power Steering

Fuck sake....

Power steering fluid. Goes in the power steering fluid reservoir - that'll be in the manual.

The service book should give details of the approved lubricants. Being a GM product probably Dexron of one type or another for the PS. The reservoir might be on the pump itself or elsewhere connected by a hose. A Haynes manual could be the thing to ask for for Xmas.

first check would be tyre pressures, low fluid will make a noise before any real loss of power assistance. That model uses an electric pump, so low battery can give steering faults. If it isn't the tyres I would recommend a trip to a Vauxhall dealer.

A quick Google found this, for an '03:

"Its under the headlight, in the front of the wheel arch on the Right hand side of the car. You need to remove the inner wheel arch guard and you will be able to see it tucked under the headlight."

As you will presumably have to go somewhere to buy the fluid, why not go to a dealer? That way, you should be sure of getting the right fluid, and they might be kind enough to show you where it goes. If not, doesn't your handbook tell you?

IMO, low fluid is unlikely to cause the steering to gradually get heavier over a few weeks. If it ran out completely, it would suddenly go very heavy, and by then the pump or rack may be damaged.

Have you checked the tyre pressures recently...

I believe the Vectra C has "electro-hydraulic" PAS, so ultimately you may end up at the mercy of a dealer.

Chris

A quick Google found this, for an '03:

"Its under the headlight, in the front of the wheel arch on the Right hand side of the car. You need to remove the inner wheel arch guard and you will be able to see it tucked under the headlight."

As you will presumably have to go somewhere to buy the fluid, why not go to a dealer? That way, you should be sure of getting the right fluid, and they might be kind enough to show you where it goes. If not, doesn't your handbook tell you?

IMO, low fluid is unlikely to cause the steering to gradually get heavier over a few weeks. If it ran out completely, it would suddenly go very heavy, and by then the pump or rack may be damaged.

Have you checked the tyre pressures recently...

I believe the Vectra C has "electro-hydraulic" PAS, so ultimately you may end up at the mercy of a dealer.

Chris

Indeed- racks commonly fail on these, but not nearly as often as the fully electric servo ones on the corsa / astra - its almost a wearing part!!!!

Tim..

Probably made by Bosch.

They seem to have taken over from Lucas in making things down to a price rather than up to a spec. Who makes the best electrics etc these days?

I haven't had any Magnetti Marelli stuff break recently.

Bosch and Nippon Denso, on the other hand....

No, worse- usually Magetti-Marelli !

Tim.

Sometimes I understand why you get so annoyed :)

Si

But Conor doesn't know himself, that's why he starts foul-mouthing around, to cover his own ignorance (either than or he has a small pizzle and needs to feel like a man...), had he known he would have - like others who answered the OP - just told the OP were the reservoir is - and the manual might well not have such details if the PSP is regarded as a dealer service item, some manufactures don't tell always tell owners how to check gear box levels these days either for example.

In article , Jerry writes

I remember now why I had you in my killfile.