Starting problems, powersteering issues

[bean]

Hey chaps

New to mr2's and don't have a clue if this is a common problem, have had a search but cant find anything relevant.

Basically when I start the car in the morning it wont start first turn of the key, the fuel pump doesnt prime when I try it the first time but as soon as I stop cranking you hear the pump prime and will start no problem after this. Any ideas of where I should be looking or if it's a common fault like a dodgy relay or something.

Powersteering wise the problem is that it goes light and heavy whenever it pleases. from what I understand its speed dependant but sometimes at a stand still it feels like there is no power steering at all. I have checked the fluid, all fine, it doesn't have an aftermarket steering wheel which I read while searching could cause problems. The power steering light goes off fine and never comes on when the car is running.

Basically just after some knowledgable advice as i'm more used to my hondas so still getting to grips with the mr2, i'm off to the scrappy tomorrow so hoping to get anything I need to sort these problems.

Cheers for your help, Ben

[raptor95GTS]

can't help on the starting issues sorry but the steering pump / assist does switch off if vehicle speed is zero and stationary for er some time lol. Basically if you roll to a stop at a red light then the other side goes then the green man comes on you can pretty much be certain the PAS will have turned off. The second you start rolling or even turn the wheel it will come straight back on

[bean]

Any help chaps? The power steering doesn't come in when in should seems to switch off and no matter how much you move the wheel doesn't kick in

[toxo]

The power steering can be triggered by a few things. There's a ring gear at the wheel-end of the steering column which passes through a sensor - that should start it running when you move the wheel. It will also kick in if that sensor doesn't work, once it receives a speedo signal. It will then continue to provide assistance for 30 seconds after those sensors stop sending it a signal (i.e. time spent stationary). So, if it doesn't kick in at all when stationary then your steering position sensor / ring gear is at fault. If it does kick in when stationary intermittently, then it could be the sensor / gear, or it could be dodgy wiring to said sensor. This is the thing you will have read about on cars with aftermarket steering wheels.

As for starting, that sounds odd - the fuel pump should run flat out during cranking. The fuel pump relay is not a straight forward item as it has a 9v and 12v output via a resistor and the pin configuration changes depending on revision of the car (certainly does on turbos anyway) so if you were to borrow one from another car for troubleshooting purposes make sure the donor car is similar.

You could quickly fix the pump issue by running new wiring to it that runs on ignition live. The wiring's underneath the ashtray (the 2 pin connector, not the 3 pin one - that's the fuel level sender). That would be a bit bodgetastic though, better to fix the existing problem than just wire around it.

If you fill your profile info out with what mark and model of car you have along with your location you might be able to drum up some local help

[bean]

Many thanks for you help mate I'll also fill out the information for future use.

The car is a rev 2 G-limited, there is one identical in my local scrappys so shall venture there at the weekend and grab the fuel relay and see if that solves that issue.

I'll also get searching for the power steering problem, it may have had a steering wheel fitted in the past so will start with the sensor and wiring and see how I get on.

Thanks again mate very much appreciated, Ben

[toxo]

There are some pics of the sensor and wheel (albeit not very good ones!) here, it's at the top of the steering column (i.e. steering wheel end) on the underside.

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... t=position

[vicp1984]

my mr2 does this as well when starting, did you manage to find out the cause??

Ta

[Torero]

can't help on the starting issues sorry but the steering pump / assist does switch off if vehicle speed is zero and stationary for er some time lol. Basically if you roll to a stop at a red light then the other side goes then the green man comes on you can pretty much be certain the PAS will have turned off. The second you start rolling or even turn the wheel it will come straight back on

Just found this guys it explains why trying to park in C.London becomes so difficult when you have 2 millimetres of space front and back. I thought my pump was fubar'd.

@Toxo - excellent explanation Buddy. Crystal clear now.