Z32 Power steering pump failure, replaced, still no steering

[Dazz300zxTT]

Hi
Was driving the other day when the power steering pump failed, the pully and shaft came right through the front of the pump and all fluid was lost and all power steering! Replaced the pump with a refurbished unit but still no power steering. Used dextron fluid to refill and dont seem to have any leaks. Steering is not intermittent as iv heard on a few other post, there is no power steering at all. Before the pump exploded all was well with no issues at all. I expected if any hoses had been damaged to be losing fluid but there is no sign of any loss.

Completly lost as where to now!

Anybody with any ideas/experienceed the same issue?

Car is 91 Jspec TT Auto

[Russ]

I've not had any experience of this, but I believe the power steering pump is self bleeding, by moving the steering from lock to lock. Have you done this?

Hopefully someone with experience can advise you better.

Good luck

[zpuppy]

Yup, Dazz. If you haven't yet, put both fronts up on jack stands or a lift and with the engine idling turn from lock to lock 3 or 4 times and you should notice a marked improvement If not then check for either broken steering rack ( unlikely ) or other such issues with binding etc as it is pretty unusual to have the pump fly apart like that !

[Dazz300zxTT]

Ye i have followed the bleeding procedure but no luck, spent near half an hour today moving wheel from lock to lock, iv searched forums and heard of nothing else like this, i have noticed there is a slight difference in fluid levels as the wheel is turned (2-3cm) My mates at the local nissan all think its the rack but there was no impacts or anything out of the ordinary when the pump broke just a loss of fluid and steering so unless the pump going has damaged the rack in someway (im no expert on this subject!!) when the new pump was fitted it went thro the usual loud noises before it settled down so i know the pump was alive at that time, maybe iv been unlucky and got a **** pump?!

[Nigel Brook]

Is there not a bleed screw on the pump itself ?

[pmac]

Originally Posted by Dazz300zxTT

Ye i have followed the bleeding procedure but no luck, spent near half an hour today moving wheel from lock to lock, iv searched forums and heard of nothing else like this, i have noticed there is a slight difference in fluid levels as the wheel is turned (2-3cm) My mates at the local nissan all think its the rack but there was no impacts or anything out of the ordinary when the pump broke just a loss of fluid and steering so unless the pump going has damaged the rack in someway (im no expert on this subject!!) when the new pump was fitted it went thro the usual loud noises before it settled down so i know the pump was alive at that time, maybe iv been unlucky and got a **** pump?!

so where did you get the pump from???

[Mr.F]

On the TT models, the pump also serves the HICAS rear wheel steering. The rear rack may need to be bled separately. There are two bleed screws on the rear rack - refer to workshop manual for correct procedure. The HICAS ststem has a fail-safe valve. The HICAS electronic system also has a self-diagnostic mode which can be accessed without Consult. See workshop manual for exact procedures.

The default setting on power steering is no assistance - this is an indication that there is a fault which needs to be fixed.

Check correct operation of the solenoid on the underside of the front rack which serves to alter weight of power assistance.

[Dazz300zxTT]

sorry not sure about a bleed screw, the pump seems to be self blleding, iv followed this procedure with the previous cars and has worked before. i got the pump reconditioned from livingston autoparts

[Russ]

I believe the bleed screws Mr.F is referring too are on the rack for the rear wheel steering. If you have a turbo model and unless it's been removed you are aware that there is a HICAS system (HICAS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) so you need to be looking for the bleed screws behind the rear axle of the car

[Dazz300zxTT]

Ye sorry didnt read that post properly! lol looks like its going into nissan this week, no bleeding seems to be working. Got the pump making a loud wining yesterday for a couple of minutes, kept working the wheel but no joy and im not to confident doing any diagnostic stuff myself! to be honest i didnt know about the fault heavey steering default so iv got a feeling it could be that, fingers crossed!

[Dazz300zxTT]

O.k so cars back from its holiday nissan, they arent sure of the problem, car is in fail safe mode but wont come out of it, they reckon best thing to do is swap the rack, anyone know wee i can get a new or recon rhd rack?

[Mr.F]

How is swapping the rack going to solve an issue which is almost certainly in the sensing and control area? The only part of the rack to change might be the solenoid...

[Dazz300zxTT]

O.k Update on the zed

Tried a new rack, replaced the solenoid, checked the gearbox speed sensor and had the clocks out to disconnect the speedo converter as advised from the zed centre boys, still no power steering, the systems been drained and bled again, its been tested on motorway speeds with the wheels off the ground and no change. Its still in fail safe mode and nissan cant get it to switch off.

Anybody any more suggestions? im at a complete dead end with this!

[pmac]

PSCU. Have you trierd swapping in another one??

[Mr.F]

When speed converter disconnected, were the wires rejoined to return to original speed signal continuity?

Has the HICAS rack now been bled as previously suggested. There is a fail-safe valve associated with the send and return circuit at the rear of the car.

As pmac says - swap the control unit for a known good one.

I can only suggest further getting a copy of the workshop manual and following the instructions for self diagnosis of the twin orifice steering system. There is a procedure for getting the HICAS warning lamp to blink codes at you which then lead to possible faults in the system...