Hitchhiking to class until 98 S70 power steering fixed

hamhead · Post by **hamhead** » 28 Oct 2016, 13:37

My son and I would be grateful for any wisdom you could impart. I'm troubleshooting for my son while away at college as he has his hands full. Car has tight, heavy steering. See below his answers to some diagnostic questions. Had him take it to a local repair shop and they replaced the pump for $500. It drove fine for a week and then problem returned. They indicated the bad pump somehow ruined the rack and they've now noticed the "bellow boots" are full of fluid. that they topped off the rack fluid or whatever and now it needs refilling again. He took it back and they say it needs a new rack and alignment for $750. My questions:

Should the rack have been addressed from the beginning?
If so, I appreciate mistakes are made - what is customary in this instance? Should I expect to pay full price or some kind of reduced rate for the 2nd go round of replacing the rack considering their initial misdiagnosis?

1. How many times did you drive until you noticed the problem returned after the initial fix?
Probably a weeks worth of driving maybe 4 or 5 times.
2. Did the identical problem or degree of tightness return or was it different in some way the second time?
Same amount
3. Is the steering tightness intermittent? is it a "jerky" feeling?
Its not jerky it feels like it gets locked
4. Is the tightness as severe as when the ignition is off?
Yes
5. If so when do you notice is occurring? certain times? certain conditions? only low speeds?
It becomes easier to steer as you give it gas
6. Do you notice that one side is tighter than the other?
No
7. Is it certain parts of the turn where tightness occurs? IE: tightness starts at 2:00 and 10:00.
Further you go tighter it gets
8. Does the steering tend to wander while driving requiring you to correct?
No
9. Do you hear any noises when it happens? maybe a whining/squealing sound?
Yes it is creaky
10. IMPORTANT: Have you noticed any fluid underneath when parked? what color is it?
No
11. Does tightness coincide with a certain genre of music playing on radio?
1997 live Phish east coast run
12. Is the car tracking straight? Does it return to center after a turn or do you have to force it?
No I have to turn it back to normal position

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 28 Oct 2016, 14:51

As far as the fight over payment goes, you can try to work with the shop and see where you get. My observation over the years is that once litigation begins everyone (excpt the lawyers) looses and it becomes a matter of how much.

To the problem; the seals on the end of the rack are bad if the bellows are full of fluid. I am surprised it isn't dripping on the ground but I'll take your word for it. I have successfully fixed two racks that were leaking, potentially worse than yours, by filling the power steering with a "stop leak" product. The racks in question were on 850s which use Automatic Transmission Fluid for the steering and I used Valvoline Max Life Automatic Transmission Stop Leak. In your case, with a 70 series car, it takes power steering fluid so you need to use a product that is made specifically for power steering. I think Lucas has such a product as do others I'm sure but I can't vouch for any of them since I have never used them. Any auto parts store will have something.

The stop leak fluids are relatively cheap, under $20.00, and even if they don't fix the problem they will not make an existing problem any worse. On my Platinum Edition 850 it was leaking about 1 quart a day when I first bought it and after two days with the stop leak it hasn't leaked a drop since. It has been six or seven years ago that I used it.

I normally scoff at "miracle in a can" products but the stop leaks seem to work on the rack more often than they don't.

...Lee

Post by **scot850** » 28 Oct 2016, 15:00

Does a 98 use power steering fluid? I recall it uses the same one as the 850 and used ATF? I'm ok being wrong, but I'm certain the 98 used a different pump to 99-00's with the built in reservoir in the pump, 99-00 use the separate fluid body attached to the coolant tank.

Neil.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 28 Oct 2016, 18:15

Now that you mention it a '98 may not use power steering fluid and may indeed use ATF. The '99s that I have / had did use power steering fluid but I honestly don't recall ever checking it on the '98. When in doubt always consult the owners manual!

I actually think that either one could use either fluid but you never want to mix them together. I did that on a Jeep once and it was a mess. The manual should get it correct unless the shop that replaced the pump used the wrong thing.

Wiping the fluid on a paper tower should tell what is there now, if it is red it is ATF of it isn't red then it should be power steering fluid. Thanks for hopefully preventing me from leading someone astray Neil.

...Lee

Post by **sleddriver** » 29 Oct 2016, 10:27

My owners manual OK's the use of ATF in the PS system.

OP: AT-205 stopped my badly leaking rack within a few days and now 5 months on, not a drop.

Post by **E Showell** » 29 Oct 2016, 18:05

ATP-205 did nothing for my leaking rack so your mileage may differ. The spec. in the owner's manual for a '98 is ATF in the power steering reservoir, but I have read on a Volvo forum I consider reputable that it was actually a misprint in the owner's manual and if you go on a subscription service like AllData, they'll tell you to use Pentosin for the rack. It is worth investigating, but I just had a rebuilt rack put in my '99 S70 and used Pentosin. On the '98 rack I replaced last year, I would have used Pentosin had I been up to date on my forum reading, but the '98 and'99 owner's manuals both specify ATF for the rack.

hamhead · Post by **hamhead** » 30 Oct 2016, 17:20

good feedback. Thank you. We paid for the $500 pump change out when we took the car. Any payment concerns are relative to the extra $700 that may be required for the rack fix.

I will instruct my son to purchase some Pentosin. For clarification, will it address the sluggish steering or just fix the leak? If the Pentosin does not work and an extra $700 is required, should I assume the car was not misdiagnosed and this is par for power steering woes? If not what is fair? Would I be out of line requesting that we only pay for parts and no labor for the rack fix? or half off on the labor?

Please advise and thanks again.

Post by **E Showell** » 30 Oct 2016, 18:10

Pentosin is not a stop leak product, it is a hydraulic fluid (i.e., power steering fluid). Using Pentosin will not stop a leaking rack. It would be an option for refilling the power steering reservoir following a rack change ad make sure to run down the correct spec. Pentosin comes in many different flavors, I think mine used CHF 11S Pentosin, but I'm doing that from memory so make sure to check the spec. which you will need to do with something like AllData.

Post by **sleddriver** » 31 Oct 2016, 13:27

hamhead wrote:I will instruct my son to purchase some Pentosin. For clarification, will it address the sluggish steering or just fix the leak?

WAIT....WAIT.....WAIT.....SLOW DOWN.

Pentosin is a hydraulic fluid, not a stop-leak. Furthermore, mixing it and ATF is a no-no. You need to read up on and educate yourself on these fluids being discussed BEFORE doing anything as you clearly don't understand the differences. Plenty of info here on MVS in the repair database re: PS fluids, stop leaks, and experiences.

hamhead · Post by **hamhead** » 31 Oct 2016, 17:44

Roger that on the Pentosin. I'm slowing my roll. All good info. Just hoping to get an answer on my original questions. though maybe it was answered and I missed it? won't be the first time.