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  #1  
Old 04-27-2015, 02:04 PM
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Dumb powering steering question

The enclave (my unofficial work vehicle?) is having the power steering give out at times. It kinda feels locked and i have to roll some to turn and it pops free.

How does one go about diagnosing the problem? Its a rack mounted behind the center point of the tire.

Im quite inexperienced with this sort of system. I assume its the pump or the rack. Leaning towards the rack.

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Old 04-27-2015, 03:38 PM
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First check the level of power steering fluid. If it is low air can get into the system and it will cause this. Just top it off, start your engine and turn your front wheels from side to side to bleed air from the system. Turn all the way right and all the way left but don't leave them in that position for long since it drives the pressure in the system to the max.

If it is low then you likely have a leak and the most likely place is a seal in your Rack. Look for fluid leaking out from one of the bellows.

If your rack is leaking then it has to be replaced. There is a product made by Lucas that is a power steering treatment that works wonders at sealing leaks and you might give that a try. It is not a fix; it is a patch. But it is a good patch that will buy you some time before you will have to replace the rack.
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Old 04-27-2015, 03:45 PM
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Looks like the steering systems on these cars are problematic. There's even a class action lawsuit about it:

Consumer Class Action Lawsuit Against GM | GM Steering System
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Old 04-27-2015, 10:54 PM
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Dumb powering steering question

Edit: I'll call those lawyers tomorrow. We get so much class action stuff about that car that I stopped thinking about it. Thanks.

Yeah i saw that. Should i partake? 120k miles, no problems until now. They all have to have a weak spot. I was just thinking i would fix it. The goal is 200k miles and then light it on fire. Because its a worthless automobile...

I was thinking i would just fix. But maybe that link will cue me in to what the problem is.
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Old 04-27-2015, 10:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Idle View Post
First check the level of power steering fluid. If it is low air can get into the system and it will cause this. Just top it off, start your engine and turn your front wheels from side to side to bleed air from the system. Turn all the way right and all the way left but don't leave them in that position for long since it drives the pressure in the system to the max.



If it is low then you likely have a leak and the most likely place is a seal in your Rack. Look for fluid leaking out from one of the bellows.



If your rack is leaking then it has to be replaced. There is a product made by Lucas that is a power steering treatment that works wonders at sealing leaks and you might give that a try. It is not a fix; it is a patch. But it is a good patch that will buy you some time before you will have to replace the rack.

If theres any miracle product that could fix it, it would be Lucas

But its not low . I even just had it in going over fluids because i have a slight tranny leak. The dip stick is like 0.5mm long.
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Old 04-28-2015, 09:08 AM
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Don't light it on fire, the pollutants are really nasty. Just send it to a scrap yard so other unfortunate owners can benefit from the parts

Try draining & refilling-that might flush any gunk out.
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Old 04-28-2015, 10:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucas View Post

Yeah i saw that. Should i partake? 120k miles, no problems until now. They all have to have a weak spot. I was just thinking i would fix it. The goal is 200k miles and then light it on fire. Because its a worthless automobile...
I think I like you because you're perpetually optimistic.

Grandparents Enclave is stored at my warehouse while they are in Florida for the winter, they are coming up next week, so I started it up Saturday night, 82k miles, it threw the timing chain when it started. A friends Acadia threw a rod at 98k.

At 120k you're on borrowed time.

I get all pissy when people get dramatic about cars being 'JUUNNNNKKKK' and not fully understanding them, but the Enclave/Traverse/Acadia/Outlook is JUNK. Ours blew the evaporator at 60k (lots do), compressor went bad at 50k, our Power steering always worked but makes this really ominous groaning for the past 30k, and now there is a TSB for the transmission conductor plate cracking and loosing 3 gears and reverse, lots of 08s have sludge issues and lose oil pressure and throw chains, all 3.6Di's have huge blowby, etc etc. On top of that the visibility is poor, the MPG is terrible, and whoever chose the gear ratios in that trans ought to never be allowed near a car again, all that 6speed does is change its mind. Yeah, what a pile of trash.

Grandparents bought an RX350 for their Florida house and the Enclave is relegated to seasonal duty now. They had an RX300, and an RX330, not sure why they ever deviated.
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Old 04-28-2015, 11:08 AM
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Dumb powering steering question

Will do. Thanks.


Last edited by Lucas; 04-28-2015 at 06:04 PM.
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