[amitk26]

Originally Posted by tarundsk

Also any guidance of gear box oil leakage, it is still there.

-Tarun

I think it is either slow leak in break line or steering oil and not gearbox at all take it to TASC it can be easily fixed.

Primarily I feel there was nothing wrong with gearbox at all and Bosch made cool 10K , juddering and vibrations you felt may be due to worn out clutch.

[bj96]

Originally Posted by saurabh2711

..."HISSING" sound whenever the A/C is started. There is also a significant reduction in the cool air that is coming out from the blowers...

Mine has this sound (occasionally) too, when compressor kicks in, but, chills fine. Has been like this for over two years (don't remember exactly) or so. Have checked gas pressure couple of times- no issues. Have learned to ignore it now.

-BJ

[saurabh2711]

Originally Posted by bj96

Mine has this sound (occasionally) too, .... chills fine. .... Have learned to ignore it now.

-BJ

Many thanks BJ.
I noticed that even mine has this HISSING noice, which i was ignoring altogather. It disappears after few seconds.
But this Safari has lost its cooling significantly.. completely today. Hissing has been contineous, since the problem started.
Concern is if gas leaked out, why would have that happened in one night. Or can there be any other issue, say for example: Gas exists but cooling still not as earlier due to any malfunction, any guess.

Regards,
Saurabh.

[mercedised]

When the hissing sound comes after switching on AC then be ready to refill the gas in future. This is an indication of low AC gas. Has happened with me a couple of times. I paid 1500 for AC gas refilling the last time I did for double AC.

[ameaa]

Originally Posted by saurabh2711

Or can there be any other issue, say for example: Gas exists but cooling still not as earlier due to any malfunction, any guess.

Regards,
Saurabh.

If gas is there and your compressor is working fine, then the only thing which can stop cooling is a block in expansion valve which sits near to evaporator. This is very unusual because the compressor will cut off every 2 seconds due to back pressure. As many suggested this seems to be a leak or low gas in the system. Checking leak might take time but filling can be done quickly. Hope there is enough air throw from the blower.

[richie4u]

Hi guys, Got a strange problem. The steering on my car has become unusually heavy. This happened suddenly yesterday. it's not that there is no power assistance at all but it feels as if the front tires have less air so the effort required to turn the steering with one hand is higher. I've checked the steering oil level,also there are no sounds of any kind nor there are any leakages. Everything seems to be fine as checked by the local TASC. They even sprayed the steering rod linkages that is seen from the hood just in-case. I have also got all the wheels balanced and aligned. Although the problem seems to have lowered, it still exists so what should be checked next ?

[maglev]

Originally Posted by richie4u

Hi guys, Got a strange problem. The steering on my car has become unusually heavy. This happened suddenly yesterday. it's not that there is no power assistance at all but it feels as if the front tires have less air so the effort required to turn the steering with one hand is higher. I've checked the steering oil level,also there are no sounds of any kind nor there are any leakages. Everything seems to be fine as checked by the local TASC. They even sprayed the steering rod linkages that is seen from the hood just in-case. I have also got all the wheels balanced and aligned. Although the problem seems to have lowered, it still exists so what should be checked next ?

The same thing happened in my Brothers SX4, it finally got resolved by replacing the entire steering rack. Ask TASS to check if that's the problem.

[ameaa]

Originally Posted by richie4u

Hi guys, Got a strange problem. The steering on my car has become unusually heavy. This happened suddenly yesterday. it's not that there is no power assistance at all but it feels as if the front tires have less air so the effort required to turn the steering with one hand is higher. I've checked the steering oil level,also there are no sounds of any kind nor there are any leakages. Everything seems to be fine as checked by the local TASC. They even sprayed the steering rod linkages that is seen from the hood just in-case. I have also got all the wheels balanced and aligned. Although the problem seems to have lowered, it still exists so what should be checked next ?

Please check your idler arm grease. Some times greasing will free up steering...Hope there is no change in your front height. Usually a low front will have a stiff steering when compared to higher one. Normally this wont change unless your torsion bar bolt has slipped, but very unusual.. I am not aware of steering box issues. Hope you checked steering fluid with engine running.

[richie4u]

Thank you for your replies maglev and ameaa, My Safari is completely stock and there are no height changes. As regards to the steering oil level, I've checked it while running too, there are no leakages and the oil level is at max level.

To give an update to my problem, the steering feels more centre-oriented, What I mean to say is that imagine you need to flick the steering to avoid a sudden pot-hole, just when I try that the steering immediately returns back to the center position as fast as you had flicked it. This never ever happened before.Any replies to this please will be appreciated.

In the mean time I will get all the steering linkages greased and I hope it does not come to what maglev has suggested.

[anupmathur]

Richie, I think you should get the wheel alignment checked again, specially the toe in settings.
Incorrect belt tension of the pump driving belt is another possibility, as is the remote chance that the hydraulic pump is failing.

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by richie4u

To give an update to my problem, the steering feels more centre-oriented, What I mean to say is that imagine you need to flick the steering to avoid a sudden pot-hole, just when I try that the steering immediately returns back to the center position as fast as you had flicked it. This never ever happened before.Any replies to this please will be appreciated.

Look below the bumper in the front at lowest point you will see a big nut on each side at lowest point below the tie rods , This nut is secured with a cotter pin.
I don't know exact name of this but I think in your case this nut is overtightened.

If this nut is loose you will find wobble in wheel and vagueness in steering and if it is overtigntned steering becomes heavy and precise and returns to centre on it's own.

Many times if this nut is gets loose SA wrongly diagnose it as tie rod problem or suspension problem and recommend costlier solutions. So my 2 paisa tip to all safari owners whenever workshop recommends tie rod replacement or need for suspension job ask them to tighten this nut and drive few hundred KMs to see if the problem resurfaces before you go for the suspension work.

[sunil_k_u]

Originally Posted by dadu

The Timing belt bug hit my safari while coming back from a long weekend just 40 Kms outside banaglore on the NH, luckily had a restaurant to rest and some roadside mechanic shops to help.
I would recommend all owners whose Safari is 2012 or earlier to go for the F-Kit timing belt replacement asap or atleast get the timing belt inspected.

My Safari is July 2008 make and was recalled for the ECU cover and Timing Belt Kit update (as far as I can remember). Recently at 90000 KM the timing belt was replaced along with tensioner, water pump, etc. The old belt looked in pretty good condition even after doing 90k.

I have been insisting TASS to inspect timing belt for any possible wear and tear all these years and have been getting positive answer from them during each service. Did not want to take a chance and got it replaced during 90k service (though the manual says to replace it at 100000KM)


Just my 2 cents.

[richie4u]

Well an update to my steering problem, I had given my Safari to the local TASS yesterday to figure out the problem. They have told me that it is a problem with the Idler arm bracket and will need to be changed as that is causing the issue with the idler arm and hence the steering.

For now what they have done is that the have refitted the idler arm bracket and greased every part of the steering system. The steering feels as good as normal. As per the SA, they do not have the part in stock and have put it on order.

Can someone clarify as to what exactly goes wrong with this,is it due to wear-n-tear hence "normal"? and how much should the bracket cost?

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by richie4u

Well an update to my steering problem, I had given my Safari to the local TASS yesterday to figure out the problem. They have told me that it is a problem with the Idler arm bracket and will need to be changed as that is causing the issue with the idler arm and hence the steering.

For now what they have done is that the have refitted the idler arm bracket and greased every part of the steering system. The steering feels as good as normal. As per the SA, they do not have the part in stock and have put it on order.

Can someone clarify as to what exactly goes wrong with this,is it due to wear-n-tear hence "normal"? and how much should the bracket cost?

Idler Arm is the suspension component and there are 2 nuts to adjust it.

In my personal opinion it is good that they did not have part in stock. Drive for couple of thousand KM and check if the problem re-surfaces, If not there is not need to bother. It might be just the adjustment problem as I guessed.

As per user manual front suspension components and centre pin of steering column needs to be greased at every service ( 15K KM ) mostly the Service centres skip this part as it is lot of hard work so these kind of issues may crop up.

[richie4u]

Originally Posted by amitk26

Idler Arm is the suspension component and there are 2 nuts to adjust it.

In my personal opinion it is good that they did not have part in stock. Drive for couple of thousand KM and check if the problem re-surfaces, If not there is not need to bother. It might be just the adjustment problem as I guessed.

Well guys, the problem with the steering just came back today. Its back in its same heavy form and now I notice that the problem is more on the left hand side of the vehicle. Its slightly easier to turn towards the right but gets that heavy feeling/stuck feeling while turning towards left.

@amitk26, the SA was not speaking about changing the idler arm but the bracket that holds it. Please see the picture that I've attached which I think is that part he's taking about. Can anyone tell me what can go wrong with this part and how many is this part going to cost me? Also Is there any thing else that I can try now before replacing this part which will arrive next week?