Should the power steering relay get hot? Please read.

[Rory]

Been having some problems with my power steering. Sometimes my PAS light comes on and it stays on untill i turn the ignition off then on again. The steering seems ok most of the time but last night I noticed when stationary that it was not working. Also last night i turned the engine off then the ignition back on (without the engine running). I noticed that when I turned the steering wheel my rev counter flew up to redline (engine still turned off). Everytime i turned the steering wheel the rev counter jumped all over the place. Its was very strange. I popped my bonnet today after an hours driving and my PAS relay was too hot to touch. Is this normal?

[Mark Edwards]

I should imagine it would get quite hot yes, it's about a 100amp relay. Shouldn't be playing with your rev counter though.

[si2040]

you have a fault in your electrics pin it and see what it is

[Lictor]

I had my rev counter jump all over the place when one of the battery leads was barely on the terminal. The power steering takes a lot of current and if the connection can't supply it some strange things do happen.

[Rory]

you have a fault in your electrics pin it and see what it is

Sorry i dont understand what you mean. Please explain further.

Rory

[RedWitch]

Think he means go to the diagnostics and read the error code

[Aitch]

I had my rev counter jump all over the place when one of the battery leads was barely on the terminal. The power steering takes a lot of current and if the connection can't supply it some strange things do happen.

When Stacey's MR2 broke down on the Cat and Fiddle run at the weekend, something similar was happening. It appeared as though the alternator wasn't charging the battery. The power steering relay was clicking like a geiger counter and the rev needle was jumping around erratically between 0 and 1000rpm.

I don't know much about the Mk2 at all, but they seem to have some effect on each other in the electrical circuit from what I can make out, but what exactly, I'm not sure.

What is the status of your battery and charging circuit like?

[Rory]

Battery is only a few months old and perfect. Its an intermitant fault. Didnt have any problems driving to work today. And my rev counter doesnt just jumpt to 1k. It jumps all the way to redline sometimes. Strange.

Rory

[nailmonkey]

Is the CC pump connected to the powersteering circuit?

Nik

[Rory]

Is the CC pump connected to the powersteering circuit?

Nik

Yep. Its been connected to it for about a year. If the weather is dry this weekend im going to wire it to an alternative 12v ignition swithced source if I can find one under the front bonnet. Does anyone know where there is one under the bonnet?

Rory

[Mark Edwards]

Mine is wired into the rad fans.

[Rory]

Mine is wired into the rad fans.

Does that mean that you have to have your rad fans running all the time?
Im going to check for error codes on the steering next time my PAS light comes on. Has the engine got to be turned off when the light is on or can I just pull up leaving the engine on and check for codes?

Rory

[Mark Edwards]

Nope, my fans run normally mate. Best to switch it off before shorting it out, but the power steering has it's own ecu that stores the codes for that. You'll need to short different pins to normal. It's all in the bgb if you have it.

[Rory]

It's all in the bgb if you have it.

Nope I dont have it. My next question was going to be "How do I check for error codes on the steering?"


So if your CC pump only runs when your fans are on doesnt your CC get really hot?? My CC would be very hot within a couple of mins of full boost if the pump wasnt running.

Rory

[Mark Edwards]

The pump runs constantly, think it's wired into the feed for the passenger side one which might be for the a/c (?)

[Rory]

The pump runs constantly, think it's wired into the feed for the passenger side one which might be for the a/c (?)

Oh I understand now. Your saying the fans have a constant 12v feed thats always there when the ignition is on however the fans only turn on when needed? I thought it was a little strange that your CC pump only turned on when your rad fans did. You got any photos of the wireing?

Rory

[Mark Edwards]

No mate i haven't.

[Rory]

Thanks for the help Mark. Ill give it all a go this weekend.

Rory

[Mark Edwards]

No probs mate, good luck.

[Rory]

Well I just checked for error codes and got code 31. Which is wearing out of power steering motor. Is this an expensive thing to replace? Is it a big job labour wise?

Rory