Steering hydro lock?

thorv70t5 · Post by **thorv70t5** » 23 Aug 2018, 16:11

My 2001 V70T5 with 80000 miles have a new issue. While driving and or after starting, the steering act like it goes in to a hydro lock. Steering is not possible to turn in the direction you are trying to turn to.
After a few tries back and forth with steering wheel it will return to normal. This last time it happened in the driveway I had a person hold the steering wheel while I took a look in the engine compartment at the pump and the reservoir . Pump is turning but in the reservoir there where fluid but no circulation of fluid.
About 4 months ago I did change the rack.
Can’t find any blogs on this issue, any suggestions?

Post by **SuperHerman** » 23 Aug 2018, 20:15

You need to eliminate a few items. For now let us assume your 4 month old rack is working correctly and your installation was done right.

Do you know if you have electric assist on the rack (not sure on your year/model). If you do check the connection and wiring. When it is working, try unplugging it and see if your symptoms return. Maybe you have a bad connection or faulty power assist component.

Check your fluid reservoir and make sure it is free of blockage. Check all of your hoses and make sure they are secure and air is not getting into the system. (Although if you had air in the system you would see agitated fluid - but worth a look).

Loosen your cap and remove it while engine is running and move the wheel lock to lock three or four times to make sure you do not have air in the system.

Did you buy a new, used or rebuilt unit?

Report back.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 23 Aug 2018, 20:20

Go through this write up to see if you catch anything.

http://www.volvoxc.com/0/resources/how- ... g-gear.pdf

thorv70t5 · Post by **thorv70t5** » 24 Aug 2018, 06:47

Thanks
Yes a rebuilt rack. No it does not have the electric assist. No agitated fluid. Quantity is in accordance with levele on dipstick. No debris or blockage is obvious.
Drove it a few trips yesterday and it will lock up when turning Right, to get it working again I have to turn wheel Left a little (enough to drift into opposit lane) and it will now work for a while again. There is no certain place it locks up, it will happened throughout the range of the steering. I’m not able to overcome the force, as if it was reverting to steering without hydraulic power assis.
The installation of the rack was in accordance with the maintenance manual and it’s been working fine since I installed it until last week.

Post by **oragex** » 24 Aug 2018, 07:14

The older type of reservoirs - with the return line at the top - had an issue with a piece detaching inside the reservoir. Maybe empty it and have a look inside with a flash light.

Also worth inspecting the lower steering coupler

I've also read that when it locks trying to turn to one side, that may be the rack (take it with a grain of salt)

Post by **abscate** » 24 Aug 2018, 10:45

I think that rack has to come off and be sent back for evaluation.

Document the problem with some video in a parking lot.

Of course, the car needs to be off the road.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 24 Aug 2018, 12:34

Assuming all of the checks provided have been done and results acceptable it appears your rack is the issue.

I have not worked on a Volvo rack, but did do a rebuild on a ZF VW Passat back a few years back. Rebuilds really just replace the seals, which 99% of the time is all that is needed. There are various internal O-rings that wear out and start to leak, usually at the ends and that is why the rack boots fill up with steering fluid.

There is one part of the VW rebuild where adjustments are made via an external bolt. If this bolt is too tight a rack could behave in the manner you describe. Volvo has a slightly different approach based on below information.

For your car this may be relevant.

See here and read through carefully: http://www.volvoxc.com/0/resources/how- ... Noises.pdf

My guess is you have to go backwards, which may not be permitted, although it is mentioned if symptoms like yours appear after adjustment.

thorv70t5 · Post by **thorv70t5** » 25 Aug 2018, 06:20

Thanks for the suggestions I will try to flush the fluid and check the reservoir and than go deeper with the rack. When I find the solution I will post a feedback.

thorv70t5 · Post by **thorv70t5** » 03 Sep 2022, 00:58

Guess I forgot about a followup, but I did go to a mechanic to have the system flushed and since it have worked just fine 4 years later.......
Sorry for the delayed solution followup....

dikidera · Post by **dikidera** » 03 Sep 2022, 06:16

thorv70t5 wrote: ↑03 Sep 2022, 00:58 Guess I forgot about a followup, but I did go to a mechanic to have the system flushed and since it have worked just fine 4 years later.......
Sorry for the delayed solution followup....

The suspense was killing me. J/K, but yeah a soon-ish reply might have helped people in the past. I've seen numerous threads abandoned with no last reply on how a problem was solved.