vauxhall astravan 2003 1.7dt - Starts, but no power steering.

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Fri 1 Mar 2013 20:13
vauxhall astravan 2003 1.7dt - Starts, but no power steering. - sparky100

Hi, i have owed this van for about 5 years and never had a problem. Today i made a journey of about 25miles.I turned off and when i tried to start it the battery was almost flat. I then jumped started it and it started alright. When i went to drive away i had no power steering at all. I thought the belt had gone. No lights on the dash came on. After a few hundred yards the steering came back but the gauges were going up an down. It then settled down and i drove the 25 miles home ok.

When i arrived i turned off and tried again all ok. I had a spare battery so changed it over and it started ok, when i tried to steer it, i had no power steering again and also the battery light came on. I haven't had time to investigate further but wondering if any one out there has any ideas.Thanks. Sparky 100.

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Fri 1 Mar 2013 21:03
vauxhall astravan 2003 1.7dt - Starts, but no power steering. - elekie&a/c doctor

The power steering on these is electro/hydraulic.If the battery charge voltage is too low it will not operate.I would suggest that you have a problem with the alternator.Get the charging system checked.

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Sun 3 Mar 2013 19:54
vauxhall astravan 2003 1.7dt - Starts, but no power steering. - sparky100

Hi, i've just taken the alternator off to have a look, and there is only two wires connected. The main one which must go to the battery and a small wire which i assume goes to the battery light on the dash. Is this right, because i thought there are three cables normally. On inspecting the main connection to the alternator it seemed to be a bit corroded but i don't think this is the problem.. Thanks.

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Mon 4 Mar 2013 06:02
vauxhall astravan 2003 1.7dt - Starts, but no power steering. - 1litregolfeater

Low fluid? On the DTI the cylinder is hidden behind the engine. It takes the green stuff not the red. CHF 11S from Comma.

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Mon 4 Mar 2013 06:15
vauxhall astravan 2003 1.7dt - Starts, but no power steering. - 1litregolfeater

And the alternator may not be pumping out full juice, commonly one of the diodes in the rectifier bridge fails in a Hitachi alternator. Check it with a multimeter, but if your headlights look yellow instead of white, you kind of know already.

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Mon 4 Mar 2013 08:05
vauxhall astravan 2003 1.7dt - Starts, but no power steering. - TeeCee

If a diode's blown, you only get power half the time as half the bridge rectifier does nothing.

Shading the dashboard and looking carefully should reveal a dull glow from the ignition lamp as it lights 50% of the time.

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Sun 17 Mar 2013 23:14
vauxhall astravan 2003 1.7dt - Starts, but no power steering. - 1litregolfeater

Not many people can fix much any more. We seem to have become a society of idiots.

You won't get far with talk of diodes, most of them think the oil pressure light is a warning light.

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