PAS problems

[Carl]

Afternoon all

I'm trying to sort the PAS out on Fioner, but it's proving difficult. Basically it works when turning the wheel left, but not when turning right. The fluid is pretty mucky and we suspect there may even be engine oil mixed in with it. So far I've flushed through about 2.5 litres of new fluid, but it's turning mucky straight away and doesn't seem to be helping.

Do you think it's the fluid causing problems, or perhaps something else? Is there an easier way to flush the skanky fluid out?

Any advice appreciated!!

Ta

[kaos]

it should not have any oil in it at all, PAS should only run of the aux drive belt.,

reason it may not work one side is crimped pipe or blockage, mucky ness might be down to problems else where in side the actual rack.

[Carl]

Obviously the oil from the engine hasn't got in the PAS system, but I think at some point someone has topped the PAS resevoir up with oil.

All the pipes look ok. I think I'm gonna get a large supply of fluid and flush it properly by disconnecting the return hose, sticking it in a bucket and running the engine. If that doesn't cure it I'll have to start replacing parts.

[Tourinki]

I think I'm gonna get a large supply of fluid and flush it properly by disconnecting the return hose, sticking it in a bucket and running the engine. If that doesn't cure it I'll have to start replacing parts.

I have been told that it is the only way to flush the system. But it is very costly method because it may take 10 to 15 liters of that fluid before the stuff what is coming out of the return pipe is like the new stuff you put in it.

[Ronnie]

Best solution to this problem s to delete the PAS!

[Carl]

You might be right, but the steering is bloody hard work without it. Ultimately I guess it means changing the rack which is a bit more work than I'd like to do.

[sven360]

Your right, but the steering is bloody hard work without it. Ultimately I guess my string like arms and pea pod biceps aren't up to the job.Looks like I'll have to try a motor named after a dog

Steady on Carl. Few too many shandies there I'd say

[Carl]

Bloody northern monkeys!

Well I'm off for a days rallying in the 360. ttfn

only as a speccy unfortunately

[foggyjames]

Try taking all the hard lines off the rack and flushing them through. I suspect there's a blockage in the line which feeds the 'far' end of the rack. You'll see what I mean when you're under there. I *think* that's what that 'transfer pipe' does, anyway.

360 PAS is nice and weighty (non-PAS is actually lighter above 60mph, I think), and it's a QUICKER rack. Tsk..you Northern rally boys don't know a good thing when you're on to it. Still, if you wanna practice your 'scouse hands' impersonation...

cheers

James

[MJ]

You said it foggy, PAS is weighty, but not in the way you meant it

Reducing weight is always a good move, and if you want a quicker rack, use the PAS rack but not the rest

Southerners... (says the person from Devon )

[foggyjames]

Weight? Weight?! More power, fool! You'll be telling me to scrape off the soundproofing, next!

Edit...while I'm ranting...it doesn't half piss me off when Jeremy Clarkson goes on about how modern cars are heavy because of Sat Nav and Airbags. Those weigh naff all, you big curly-headed tit! It's the massively thick steel the cars are made out of which makes them strong in impacts....and, of course...heavy!

/Rant

cheers

James

[filthyjohn]

In my experience of new cars (I've built 6 different models of Nissan), they aren't built any better than old ones. Qashqai rear suspension for example (which I'm quite well acquainted with having sub-assembled 458 units tonight), is much the same as that of any car with independent rear sus. There's a bit of extra height and space for the diff of course, but you can pick up a fully built 2WD assy by yourself.
The old P12 primeras (and therefore lagunas) had underpinnings as weedy as a 106, and all exterior panels are flimsy enough to be dented by a boisterous wasp. For me, the only source of extra weight can be the thick chassis rails, and the ridiculous levels of equipment. One airbag doesn't weigh much, but when the car has 15 it starts to add up.

[MJ]

It's all about less weight and more power, fool

Who needs all that soundproofing anyway

Yeah, I know it's mostly all of the metal which is very important, but if you weighed the PAS, air con, cup holders, surround sound and, er soundproofing and other non-essentials on a modern car, which was non existent a few decades ago, it would add up. Sure it's not the majority of the weight, but it's waste IMO

Don't worry though, I won't be gutting the 340

[foggyjames]

That 940 vs Renault Modus crash test video is pretty damning, on the face of it...but it hides two interesting points.

Firstly, the Modus is about 2/3rds the size of the 940, if that, and weighs approximately 85% as much as the 940. That's some seriously thick steel in that little car!

Secondly, no decelleration data was produced for the impact. While the 940 driver may well have lost their legs (unlike the Modus driver), there's no evidence to suggest that the Modus driver would have been any less dead due to the brain hitting the inside of the skull. For a long, long time, there had never been a reported fatality in a 960, which is essentially the same car.

As for weight...I'm afraid I don't buy it. I mean I know what you're saying...and weight reduction is generally a good thing...but 300s are pretty light for their size already. You'll never take enough weight out to make a significant difference...and it's the wrong shape and size to give single seater type handling. Bear in mind that almost any modern-ish performance saloon you could care to mention weighs significantly more than a 300, I think we're ok for weight.

The addage goes that the cheapest way to 'build' a fast car now is to take a old, light car, and install a modern, powerful engine (designed to lug around a modern, heavy car). 300s are the old, light cars, compared to their modern equivalents.

Of course this appears to fly in the face of my earlier statement about their safety...but you have to remember that they're much, much stronger than most of their contemporaries, to the point where they still compare favourably (if not directly) with equivalent cars today in terms of safety.

cheers

James

[MJ]

"That’s the formula, It’s a massive motor in a tiny, lightweight car." Carroll Shelby (Describing the new Cobra)

Agreed on that point, and the rest of your post really. Of course a 300 in stock or lightly modified form will never be a track killer, but I have a dislike of PAS, and as manual steering saves weight, that's another advantage, if only a very tiny one.