Vauxhall Vectra V6 problem ?

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Sun 10 Apr 2005 20:59
Vauxhall Vectra V6 problem ? - minuno1000
Please help,

Ive just driven to Scarborough in my Vectra 2.5 V6 about 4 miles from my jouneys end I heard a noise which i thought was the wind blowing outside, and then suddenly the steering stiffened and it was hard to turn the wheel. I stopped and checked the Steering fluid reserviour which was very low (although on starting my journey it wasnt) I found a sevice station topped it up and within 10 mins it was empty again. on the left hand side of the engine are some belts which seem to be struggling ( this is a new thing entirely to me ) and under the bumper I could see and feel my newly added PAS fluid. the car has only done 44,000 miles and it was made in 98 please help anyone!!!

Im not mechanically minded at all so please advise what I need to ask the garage in the morning
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Sun 10 Apr 2005 21:09
Vauxhall Vectra V6 problem ? - smokie
I'm not technical either but I had this once on a Sierra. The nut at the bottom of the reservoir had worked loose.
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Sun 10 Apr 2005 21:31
Vauxhall Vectra V6 problem ? - minuno1000
Ive felt around under the black container and its dry , You can see the fluid on the car structure on the left hand side the pipe coming from the reservoir is also bone dry. When you turn the steering wheel it makes a noise and as i say is diffucult could all these problems just be casued by a leaking joint?. I filled up to mamimum on the maker and turned the engine on then wam!! no more fluid in the are i had just put it. Why does the thick belt seem to be having trouble.

Gosh i wish id done motor mechanics at school rather than woodwork!!!
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Sun 10 Apr 2005 21:34
Vauxhall Vectra V6 problem ? - minuno1000
Excuse my typing errors this is stressing me out in case its something really serious my girlfriend said there was also a kind of burning smell although there isnt anything on fire , i guess this is all inter related?.

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Sun 10 Apr 2005 22:17
Vauxhall Vectra V6 problem ? - Altea Ego
As you can tell its a leak in the power steering system. It could be as simple and cheap as a loose joint, through a fractured pipe, to an eyewateringly expensive defective rack or pump. Unless you are happy crawling around in and under the engine bay and suspension you are going to have to wait till the mechanic gets it up on the ramp.

And yes the smell is probably hot power steering fluid.
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Sun 10 Apr 2005 22:19
Vauxhall Vectra V6 problem ? - Altea Ego
Oh and STOP USING THE CAR. with no fluid in, as well as being hard to steer, you are damaging the pump. So keep it TURNED OFF
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Sun 10 Apr 2005 23:10
Vauxhall Vectra V6 problem ? - Aprilia
Sounds like you have a broken or burst PS pipe, or possibly a seal that's failed. So long as you don't run the engine (which might damage the pump) this shouldn't be *too* expensive to repair.

If the pump is damaged get a secondhand one from a breaker.
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