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Peugeot 306 1.4 - Screeching noise / power steering failing - gavmoffat

Hi all

I'm getting a horrible screeching sound when doing low speed turns for parking etc, and it just got worse when the power steering seemed to fail at these low speeds, resulting in me heaving and wrestling the wheel just to get the car out of the car park.

It seems to be much worse when starting from cold, and once I get over about 10 mph the steering becomes light as a feather again.

I checked power steering fluid levels and they were fine. This coupled with the screeching sound suggests the belt may need tightened or replaced would I be right? Does anyone know where I can locate the belt in the engine bay to have a look?

Peugeot 306 1.4 - Screeching noise / power steering failing - smed706

hi the belt you need to check is on the left hand side of the engine bay if you are stood looking at it from the front of the car and the belt is a flat wide belt with a series of ribs running long ways with the belt check this for exesive play 1st

worryingly though the symptons you are describing are pointing to the pump and the way to check this is to grab the pump pulley (wile engine is off obviously) and try pulling it left to right if the pump is shot you will feel play in this pulley and there should be none

so try the 1st suggestion (the cheapest) if it isnt the belt then it will 99.9% be the pump

good luck and hope this helps

kind regards Neil

Peugeot 306 1.4 - Screeching noise / power steering failing - gavmoffat
Thanks Neil

You probably know what I'm going to ask here, where's the pump pulley? Is it near the power steering fluid reservoir?

The belt looks fine to the eye but I'll investigate further in morning. How much is a fix on the pump likely to be?
Peugeot 306 1.4 - Screeching noise / power steering failing - smed706

right on the 206 1.4 yes the resevoir is on top of the pump with the pulley to the left

I'm positive its the same on the 306 1.4 as the engines are identical

if you look at the engine the the pump is usually near to the top of the engine on the left

as far cost i have recently replaced 1 on a 206 using a second hand pump and to supply and fit it I charged £65.00 and like i said the 306 will be identical

again i hope this helps my email is smed706@googlemail.com if you want to email me direct but i dont mind if not

kind regards Neil