2000 v70 power steering works sometimes, sometimes doesn't

fathrington · Post by **fathrington** » 02 Jul 2014, 17:51

I got this car from my grandfather. Before he gave it to me, i used to complain about a whining noise i thought was coming from the power steering. He had bad hearing and the steering worked fine, so he brushed it off as nothing. He passed away and i was given the car. For the past year, the power steering is off and on. I can drive it around, and it will work sometime 80% of the time. No rhyme or reason to it. No leaks, so i am not sure what to try.
100k miles
anyone have this happen?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 02 Jul 2014, 19:48

Welcome to MVS.

Have you checked the fluid level? The steering normally groans when it is low on fluid and it is subject to air lock when the fluid level is low.

...Lee

fathrington · Post by **fathrington** » 03 Jul 2014, 07:28

yea tht was my first move over a year ago. i also tried replacing the power steering tank with another one, because i read there was a switch inside that can get locked up. no help to either.

Post by **regent** » 03 Jul 2014, 09:20

Replacing the PS tank (or reservoir) is a good preventive measure. The filter inside cannot be changed otherwise, and when it starts to get clogged, the PS pump will be starved.

The part itself is just another one on the list of numerous so called 'Lifetime' components and fluids that the volvo design Gurus tell us not to worry about...

If you do not have apparent leaks but you keep adding fluid, look at your inner tierod bellows. Sometimes the leak is at the rack seals.

fathrington · Post by **fathrington** » 03 Jul 2014, 10:02

i havent had to add any fluid since i replaced the tank over a year ago. Checked the level a day or 2 ago and its still at the same spot. maybe the old tank starved the pump and that is what started causing it to go bad, and work intermittently?
when i used to hear the whine, before it had problems, it seemed to happen on lower rpms when turning the wheel