First sign of trouble was a slight grating noise from engine top end
which grew slowly worse. A day or so later I noticed oil on the path.
Ran engine on tick over to find origin of sound with a listening stick.
No luck. Got in car and happened to move steering wheel and the sound
grew very much louder so guessed this was power steering circuit
trouble. I've swarmed beneath the car and so far find there is another
radiator in a rotten position sat close up to the main radiator but on
the inside, ie, nearest the engine. This is covered with oil so it
seems to be leaking from some point from the top of this smaller
radiator/oil-cooler. I've moved a tray to get a better view & it looks
like I may have to shift a bit more to get a good look. I read a post
where someone said they'd simply by-passed this cooler reckoning our
climate didn't need it. I'm hoping if he reads this he'll let me know
if all went well as I can't find his email address and he did the job a
year ago.
Anyway like I say, I've only just started and I'd be very glad of any
comments about the layout of this hydraulic circuit, where it comes
from, goes to, if the cooler will come out by removal of the two nuts
I've so far noticed or is it a lot of trouble, and any opinions on
by-passing. I've had scores of cars in my time but never come across
power steering before. I must say that I'm surprised that oil gets hot
just by pumping it round but there it is. Thanks and Cheers.
Tony Bond - 25 Jan 2007 03:18 GMT
> First sign of trouble was a slight grating noise from engine top end
> which grew slowly worse. A day or so later I noticed oil on the path.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> power steering before. I must say that I'm surprised that oil gets hot
> just by pumping it round but there it is. Thanks and Cheers.
The power-steering cooler is in front of the rad and is a "U" shaped steel
pipe with small fins.
Easy job to change and around £45 from Ford, you get new flexi-pipes and
clips with it.
HTH

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Tony Bond / UncleFista
www.bradford7.co.uk
Love is like a snowmobile, speeding across the frozen tundra.
Which suddenly flips, pinning you underneath.
At night the ice-weasels come...