Problem with Contessa Power steering - Aftermarket fitment

quicksilver · 17th February 2006, 17:51

Hi all,

I have recently added a power steering kit from a Petrol contessa to my Dad's Diesel Contessa (2.0 DLX). The problem is, the steering is very light. Now I know you might think it is a good thing, but this is just too free, it is almost impossible to drive the car. The mechanic had tried to compensate for this by using a pulley with larger diameter for the Power steering pump so it would get lesser rotations. that did not help.

he had also tightened the steering as much as possible, so it is almost impossible to turn it without starting the engine. The steering is otherwise good, no unwanted noise or oil leak etc. I got everything done for 5K so can't really blame the mechanic. I guess you could only get so much for 5K.

Has anyone had this or similar problem with their power steering systems ? if so please let me know. Any pointers on this would be a great help.

Thanks guys

Sri

jyobeb · 17th February 2006, 18:38

A friend of mine had exactly the same problem. The steering wheel felt like it was not connected to anything!
Tightening the steering box will wear out the rack really fast so don't do that. It doesn't help tightening the steering while you are moving anyway!
Change your pump. There is too much assistance from your steering pump. Get an original isuzu diesel (imported) pump, it should cost you about 250 bucks in Chennai. If you get it with the original brackets, fitting it will be easy.

quicksilver · 17th February 2006, 19:26

hey thanks for that quick reply pal.... I understand about the Pump made for Isuzu Diesel specifically. In the mean while, is there anything at all I can do with the existing setup ? like tinker with the pump etc ? might as well play around with it a bit... ya know.... bitten by the DIY bug

DRC · 17th February 2006, 20:15

I dont know the set up you have used, but this is a hypothetical answer..

Please see if there is a valve regulating the pressure of the steering fluid. usually it should be connected to the return hose of the fluid. if there is a way to regulate the pressure there, ypou can give it a try..

jyobeb · 18th February 2006, 09:01

I don't know about the DIY with the pump. May be a bad idea cos it could be dangerous. Anyway, you could exchange it for a used imported pump or even two pumps!

quicksilver · 20th February 2006, 16:31

Had a quick look at the pump and there does not seem to be any valve connect to the oil return hose. Maybe that is the problem. I will check with the Mechanic and in the mean while will also have to start the look out for an imported pump for the ISUZU diesel. Any ideas where/whom I can contact in Chennai ?

Mpower · 20th February 2006, 21:48

There has to be a return circuit somewhere. Otherwise the fluid has nowhere to go...for example when you are driving in a straight line, the fluid is recirculating. I suggest you get a hold of a service manual and study the routing....and yes by bleeding off the excess pressure you will reduce the effort......but you are wasting energy by using a larger than necessary pump.

But its baffling because...regardless of engine its the same freaking car....so why does the diesel use a smaller pump. If anything, the diesel needs more assistance due to the heavier engine

quicksilver · 21st February 2006, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

There has to be a return circuit somewhere. Otherwise the fluid has nowhere to go...for example when you are driving in a straight line, the fluid is recirculating. I suggest you get a hold of a service manual and study the routing....and yes by bleeding off the excess pressure you will reduce the effort......but you are wasting energy by using a larger than necessary pump.

But its baffling because...regardless of engine its the same freaking car....so why does the diesel use a smaller pump. If anything, the diesel needs more assistance due to the heavier engine

I am taking the car to the garage this weekend to check the return valve. thanks for the help. BTW, one thing that I was thinkng of was on the same lines.... a diesel car would only need more assistance because of the added engine weight but this seems to be otherwise. One of the advices I got was to increase the outer dia of the pulley so the pump gets lesser rotations... was puzzled again cuz typically petrol engines have higher rpm compared to the diesels.... which is why I need an answer more than anything else

quicksilver · 2nd August 2006, 01:23

6 months on, am still unable to find a matching pump or rectify the problem otherwise.... any ideas/thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to let go of this car for such a silly reason.... It's my Dad's car and he is tired of trying to get it rectified.

quicksilver · 9th February 2007, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by quicksilver

6 months on, am still unable to find a matching pump or rectify the problem otherwise.... any ideas/thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to let go of this car for such a silly reason.... It's my Dad's car and he is tired of trying to get it rectified.

for the benefit of anyone who is having the same problem..... I finally got this issue rectified by a place that runs a lathe... obviously they specialise in calibrating these pumps etc and got the reference from a local garage. It took about an hour for them to adjust the pump (I doubt he did make some changes to the return valve.... which I could not find earlier) and charged me 100 bucks.

Car is handling well now and I am happy that it does not have to be shelved/sold off.

Thanks for the inputs here... it was bang on target (I think).

j_j · 13th July 2007, 22:57

This is my first post. I just love Team-BHP, never thought such a good site existed till i accidently stumbled across it some days back. Thankq Team-BHP.

I am Jai. I too got a contessa.

Mine is a petrol version with out power steering altered to Toyota 2C Turbo charged engine. All the engine fitting work was done in Covai, near 100ft road.

You got it for 5K right? ( i dont mind even if it is a little higher)

Can you please tell me where you got it from, i mean the adress n with which mech you got it fixed? n also the lath adress.

If you could pass me these details it would be of great help

.

ThankQ.

KkVaidya · 10th August 2015, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by quicksilver

for the benefit of anyone who is having the same problem..... I finally got this issue rectified by a place that runs a lathe... obviously they specialise in calibrating these pumps etc and got the reference from a local garage. It took about an hour for them to adjust the pump (I doubt he did make some changes to the return valve.... which I could not find earlier) and charged me 100 bucks.

Car is handling well now and I am happy that it does not have to be shelved/sold off.

Thanks for the inputs here... it was bang on target (I think).

Hello,

Can you please outline exact details of the work done to reduce the over sensitive power steering on your car? Mine is a petrol and having the same problem but is noticed at speeds above 40kmph.

17th February 2006, 17:51	#1
quicksilver BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 455 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	Problem with Contessa Power steering - Aftermarket fitment Hi all, I have recently added a power steering kit from a Petrol contessa to my Dad's Diesel Contessa (2.0 DLX). The problem is, the steering is very light. Now I know you might think it is a good thing, but this is just too free, it is almost impossible to drive the car. The mechanic had tried to compensate for this by using a pulley with larger diameter for the Power steering pump so it would get lesser rotations. that did not help. he had also tightened the steering as much as possible, so it is almost impossible to turn it without starting the engine. The steering is otherwise good, no unwanted noise or oil leak etc. I got everything done for 5K so can't really blame the mechanic. I guess you could only get so much for 5K. Has anyone had this or similar problem with their power steering systems ? if so please let me know. Any pointers on this would be a great help. Thanks guys Sri
	() Thanks

17th February 2006, 18:38	#2
jyobeb Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Madurai Posts: 1,010 Thanked: 704 Times	A friend of mine had exactly the same problem. The steering wheel felt like it was not connected to anything! Tightening the steering box will wear out the rack really fast so don't do that. It doesn't help tightening the steering while you are moving anyway! Change your pump. There is too much assistance from your steering pump. Get an original isuzu diesel (imported) pump, it should cost you about 250 bucks in Chennai. If you get it with the original brackets, fitting it will be easy.
	() Thanks

17th February 2006, 19:26	#3
quicksilver BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 455 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	hey thanks for that quick reply pal.... I understand about the Pump made for Isuzu Diesel specifically. In the mean while, is there anything at all I can do with the existing setup ? like tinker with the pump etc ? might as well play around with it a bit... ya know.... bitten by the DIY bug
	() Thanks

17th February 2006, 20:15	#4
DRC BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cockpit Posts: 911 Thanked: 64 Times View My Garage	I dont know the set up you have used, but this is a hypothetical answer.. Please see if there is a valve regulating the pressure of the steering fluid. usually it should be connected to the return hose of the fluid. if there is a way to regulate the pressure there, ypou can give it a try..
	() Thanks

18th February 2006, 09:01	#5
jyobeb Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Madurai Posts: 1,010 Thanked: 704 Times	I don't know about the DIY with the pump. May be a bad idea cos it could be dangerous. Anyway, you could exchange it for a used imported pump or even two pumps!
	() Thanks

20th February 2006, 16:31	#6
quicksilver BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 455 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	Had a quick look at the pump and there does not seem to be any valve connect to the oil return hose. Maybe that is the problem. I will check with the Mechanic and in the mean while will also have to start the look out for an imported pump for the ISUZU diesel. Any ideas where/whom I can contact in Chennai ?
	() Thanks

20th February 2006, 21:48	#7
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	There has to be a return circuit somewhere. Otherwise the fluid has nowhere to go...for example when you are driving in a straight line, the fluid is recirculating. I suggest you get a hold of a service manual and study the routing....and yes by bleeding off the excess pressure you will reduce the effort......but you are wasting energy by using a larger than necessary pump. But its baffling because...regardless of engine its the same freaking car....so why does the diesel use a smaller pump. If anything, the diesel needs more assistance due to the heavier engine
	() Thanks

2nd August 2006, 01:23	#9
quicksilver BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 455 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	6 months on, am still unable to find a matching pump or rectify the problem otherwise.... any ideas/thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to let go of this car for such a silly reason.... It's my Dad's car and he is tired of trying to get it rectified.
	() Thanks

13th July 2007, 22:57	#11
j_j Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mpl Posts: 22 Thanked: 0 Times	Needed some info... This is my first post. I just love Team-BHP, never thought such a good site existed till i accidently stumbled across it some days back. Thankq Team-BHP. I am Jai. I too got a contessa. Mine is a petrol version with out power steering altered to Toyota 2C Turbo charged engine. All the engine fitting work was done in Covai, near 100ft road. You got it for 5K right? ( i dont mind even if it is a little higher) Can you please tell me where you got it from, i mean the adress n with which mech you got it fixed? n also the lath adress. If you could pass me these details it would be of great help . ThankQ.
	() Thanks