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'98 S70 T5 Power Steering Issues (159k Miles)

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70
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SleeStak69
Posts: 31
Joined: 16 July 2016
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5 5MT
Location: Washington State

'98 S70 T5 Power Steering Issues (159k Miles)

Post by SleeStak69 »

Long story short(ish); mechanic told me to flush and replace the dirty fluid, put it off for a couple weeks, installed a new steering wheel in my car which involed a numerous amount of turning the wheel, start the car up and drive off making a very audible whine when the steering wheel is even slightly turned in either direction and gets louder the more I turned. Parked in garage, slightly low on fluid (foamy too) so I just added the cheap PS fluid that my dad had on hand. Whining subsided noticeably. Started to back the car out and we saw a decently sized red puddle underneath the car and it's now obvious that something related to the PS is leaking. What are the steps I should take right now?

(Longer continuation); I'm trying not to get stressed as fu** about this because after searching online there's a good amount of people saying that a PS rack will be over a $1k job :shock: on the other hand, I've heard it could be simply a bad/loose hose that needs fixing, cheap fix. Then, I heard of people flushing the system, bleeding it, adding fresh fluid w/ Lucas power steering squeak/whine lubricant and they've had tremindous results (years) without replacing anything. Minuscule leaking, not completely stopped, but they claim it's still going stong. I want to do what's best but I also really don't want to shell out a fu**ing grand for a steering rack to get installed. I've spent nearly 3 thousand in repairs in less than a month on this new (to me) car and I really enjoy driving it. Selling it would be both bad and good because I love it but I also know how much of a PITA it would be to find another one with a Manual transmission :'(
Pewter Silver Metalic 1998 S70 T5 5 Speed 8)
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tryingbe
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Post by tryingbe »

#1. Clean up parts and identify the leak.
#2. Fix the leak.
#3. Fill the system.

mechanic told me to flush and replace the dirty fluid, put it off for a couple weeks
How did you flush and replace the old fluid? And why?
installed a new steering wheel in my car which involed a numerous amount of turning the wheel,
Huh? I replaced the steering wheel and and all it took was taking the cover off, taking the air bag off, then the center nut off to take the wheel off. It did not involve with "numerous amount of turning".

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85 GLH, 367 whp
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WhatAmIDoing
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Year and Model: 1998 S/V70 T5M
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Post by WhatAmIDoing »

If it turns out to be something expensive, remember that you don't really need power steering to operate a vehicle. Power steering only makes it easier to turn the wheels while stationary or at (very) low speeds. At high speeds it is completely unnecessary, and can easily cause oversteer.
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
Knows enough to be dangerous :wink:
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abscate
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Post by abscate »

To disable it you would have to find and route a serpentine belt that doesn't drive the PS pump, because it won't run dry long. You can't just run a bypass either, unless you do some hydraulics
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
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SleeStak69
Posts: 31
Joined: 16 July 2016
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5 5MT
Location: Washington State

Post by SleeStak69 »

tryingbe wrote:#1. Clean up parts and identify the leak.
#2. Fix the leak.
#3. Fill the system.

mechanic told me to flush and replace the dirty fluid, put it off for a couple weeks
How did you flush and replace the old fluid? And why?
installed a new steering wheel in my car which involed a numerous amount of turning the wheel,
Huh? I replaced the steering wheel and and all it took was taking the cover off, taking the air bag off, then the center nut off to take the wheel off. It did not involve with "numerous amount of turning".

Image
When I said "put it off" I mean I didn't do it. To loosen the airbag screws I had to turn the wheel in different directions because they're a pita to reach
Pewter Silver Metalic 1998 S70 T5 5 Speed 8)
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SleeStak69
Posts: 31
Joined: 16 July 2016
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5 5MT
Location: Washington State

Post by SleeStak69 »

UPDATE: flushed the old power steering fluid (looked like chocolate, didn't smell like it) and I added 'Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak'. The sound is now hardly noticeable at all and I haven't found any leaking. This stuff is pretty awesome so far. On a side note, turns out I didn't put my new wheel on completely straight so now I just have to ever so slightly tilt it to the right when I'm driving LOL
Pewter Silver Metalic 1998 S70 T5 5 Speed 8)
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SleeStak69
Posts: 31
Joined: 16 July 2016
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5 5MT
Location: Washington State

Post by SleeStak69 »

Update #2: centered the steering wheel correctly but for some reason it takes more travel when I turn it to actually turn the wheels, whatever, I'll get used to it. I noticed the leak is still there but I don't think it's nearly as bad as it was before, I have a fresh bottle of ATF in the trunk to top it off when needed so I think I'll do that for now.
Pewter Silver Metalic 1998 S70 T5 5 Speed 8)
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scot850
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Post by scot850 »

It would still make sense to clear all the oil off and try to isolate where the leak is. It may not be as bad as you think!

Neil.
2006 V70 2.5T AWD Polestar tune
2000 V70 R - still being an endless PITA
2006 XC70 - Our son now has this and still parked in our garage
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L - Sold
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - Sold
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SleeStak69
Posts: 31
Joined: 16 July 2016
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5 5MT
Location: Washington State

Post by SleeStak69 »

UPDATE #3 so it's been almost a month since I flushed the system and just last night the power steering starting moaning loudly almost as loud as it was before. I pulled over in nearby parking lot and added some ATF but stupid me forgot to check the fluid level (although it looked to be full). There were bubbles in the reservoir when I opened the cap also, not sure if that should be normal? (Think not) but the noise is gone again, for now
Pewter Silver Metalic 1998 S70 T5 5 Speed 8)
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abscate
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Post by abscate »

Bubbles in the PS reservoir are normal while running.
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
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