A new day a new warning light! - Power Steering Light Edition.

[CamperJack]

Having only yesterday got my engine running right again (or rather paying a few good mechanics lots and lots of pennies to do it for me) after a breakdown I drove my van from where I store it to my house to do some work on the conversion today. And a new light came on!

The steering feels as light as a feather still but the Power Steering light has illuminated in red and on start up it says on the screen "check power steering system" or some other combination of words in that meaning. Not even one day when all has been well...

I have checked the fluid. It seems a little on the low side but is not below the minimum line. So it probably wants topping up. Perhaps this would be enough to solve the issue and turn the light out?

The fluid doesn't look particularly dirty but I don't know when or even if it has ever been changed. I read that the power steering fluid should be changed on average every 70,000 - 100,000 miles and my van has done about 100,000 miles so if it has never been done perhaps the issue is that the fluid has gone bad? Who knows? Not me!

Now, having paid a mechanic lots of pennies only yesterday I'm going to attempt a change of of fluid myself. If I have no luck I'll have to hand my mechanic another heap of cash. I've been on YouTube and found a few people using a turkey baster to get the fluid out, then turning the wheels full lock both ways to pump more into the fluid resiviour and again taking it out with the baster. Then they tip new stuff in, turn the wheels full lock to pump it around the system, and add more liquid until the dip stick is reading right. Take it for a short drive and take the reading again. Sounds very doable and I've ordered a cheap baster from Amazon Prime. Video below:



I am aware this isn't a fully flush of the system but it's got to be better than adding a splash to top it up.

I was wondering though if any Funsters have had a go at this themselves or even if they know which fluid a 2013 Boxer takes? So any advice guys? Or am I mad trying this?

The current plan is to give the auto-parts shop in town my reg and use whatever their computer says.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Landy Andy]

If it was mine, I would just add some oil and see if that turns the light out. The light won’t be coming on due to the oil being old. If the light goes out, then change the oil if you want to, but just changing the oil whilst you may still have a problem, that could involve draining the system anyway, would just be a waste of oil and time.

 

[Grummyb]

I've got lorries that have done over 600 thousand miles and I've never changed the power steering fluid so I would just top it up and if I had to guess I'd say it takes normal ATF

 

[Lenny HB]

Another vote for just topping it up, Ducato warning often come on a bit early.
I kept getting a brake light fault coming on if I braked a bit heavy. Checked the fluid it was ½ way between min & max, topping it up cured it.

 

[CamperJack]

I've got lorries that have done over 600 thousand miles and I've never changed the power steering fluid so I would just top it up and if I had to guess I'd say it takes normal ATF

The argument for changing it is that when it goes bad it can cause damage to the pump and whatever other components are involved in the system and they are expensive to replace. Whereas a bottle of fluid is, what, £20 or less. Approx.

Also if I buy a bottle to top up, what else am I going to do with the unused 90% of the bottle.

I think I'm going to go with topping up to see if the light goes out and then replacing the lot, as suggested by Landy Andy.

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[CamperJack]

Ducato warning often come on a bit early.

Mine is a Boxer but I understand they're all the same? My RAC mate also said the 2.2L in them is made by Ford, which was a surprise to me!

 

[gus-lopez]

2.2L in them is made by Ford, which was a surprise to me!

Yes if on the left hand side the cover is a metal one then you have the chain driven 2,2 Ford engine.

 

[dunnah01]

The argument for changing it is that when it goes bad it can cause damage to the pump and whatever other components are involved in the system and they are expensive to replace. Whereas a bottle of fluid is, what, £20 or less. Approx.

Also if I buy a bottle to top up, what else am I going to do with the unused 90% of the bottle.

I think I'm going to go with topping up to see if the light goes out and then replacing the lot, as suggested by Landy Andy.

+1 for changing it with baster as a maintenance job anyway. Put old magazines under wheels to reduce strain on pump when turning to full lock.

 

[the1andonly]

Check the cap for fluid required, dont assume.