Searched, no dice. Power assisted power steering?

[Nairb]

This problem has been happening since I bought the car.

My power steering does not work in "neutral" or even at low revs.. I pretty much have to rev my engine past 1500rpm before my power steering works. I've changed the belt, steering rack, reservoir, lines.. all that.

Is this the norm, or what? It sucks when I am in neutral and pulling into my driveway.. it goes from smooth turning to a hassle.

I just don't like the inconsistencies.

What do?

[Kershaw]

did you tension the belt properly?

[Farbin Kaiber]

How is the output pressure on the pump? What is the condition of the impeller?

[Nairb]

Kershaw - A shop put it on for me when I had other work done to the car.. so I imagine they did.

Farbin - How can I check those things?

[Farbin Kaiber]

If a shop did the work, I'd hope you could bypass my suggestions. I say take it back and complain it's not right.

[Nairb]

It was a couple months ago.. I don't think they'd even consider taking a free look at it.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Any shop worth their salt will provide a 12mo/12000mi warranty on all work performed. Very common.

[george graves]

Does it moan and groan? The PS system is dead nuts simple - you've got something really weird going on.

I forget - does the m20 share a belt with the PS pulley?

[Nairb]

Sorry, it's a 1991 318is.. m42.

It does not moan and groan. It has done this since I purchased the car back in Feb 2010.

As I said.. I put a refurb steering rack, new tierod ends, new resorvoir, lines, and Pentosin CHF 7.1 hydraulic fluid in there.

I took it to the shop to have the rack put in, and asked them if they could replace the belts.. this isn't a shady shop by any means.

When it is cold >50 degrees, the belt sounds like it is squealing because of the cold, but it usually goes away after I rev the engine up past 1500 (perhaps because the rubber is newer and the cold makes it harder..?)

I honestly thought that's how the PS was in the e30, until I drove my buddies 325is..

Pretty much I've been searching r3v, e30tech, bf.c, and m42club for any definitive answers.. and I have never heard of this either..

[george graves]

The squealing sounds like a loose belt actually....

[Eecen]

Have you changed you PS Pump yet? Maybe its not spinning as easily as it should.

The squealing belt is either too loose, or too tight.

[Evan12]

pretty sure it could be a tensioner for the belt issue. maybe a faulty tensioner?

[glucklich21]

....Pentosin CHF 7.1 hydraulic fluid in there.

Explain this please.

[Nairb]

Explain this please.

http://www.europaparts.com/pentosin-power-steering-fluid-chf-7-1-g002000g-1-liter.html

[jlevie]

As I said.. I put a refurb steering rack, new tierod ends, new resorvoir, lines, and Pentosin CHF 7.1 hydraulic fluid in there.

Although it sounds like the problem is with the pump, the system is supposed to be filled with ATF, not power steering fluid.