I am yet to venture beneath the mini cooper 03. However I have a problem with my power steering. occasionally it stops working and the steering becomes very hard and I get a very bad turning circle. What could be the main cause of this? Could it be the power steering pump overheating due to the p/s fan as people have previously suggested? If so how can i check this? i know there is a 5amp fuse on the fan circutary. Do i simply check this fuse has not blown? if it has do i replace it and all is fine? please advise asap because i want to work on it soon.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

Double-check the fluid level in the reservoir. Some cars have suffered from a steering rack leak where the fluid leaks into the end boots (and consequently does not show any tell-tale signs of a leak). Low fluid makes the steering intermittenlty difficult. If this is the case, do not use standard power steering fluid. Use the factory fill of Pentosin CHF-11S available from the dealer. If the car is still under warranty, have it check out by their dime instead. The power steering system has two fuses - the 5 amp 'control' circuit fuse you have seen, and a 100 amp (!) 'main' fuse that is housed underneath the underhood fuse box. You will need to remove the bolts securing the fuse box and turn it over to get to this fuse (and others, under a snap-in cover). It is possible that the steering harness could be intermittent on some cars as well, along with intermittent connections of the heavy power wires going between the fuse box and the steering pump.

If you have a manual trans, 'stall' the engine and leave the ignition on. The pump will continue to run. Turn the wheel and listen to the pump. It should pick up a bit of speed when you initially begin turning the wheel, then 'bog down' the harder you twist the wheel against the stops. If you hear the pump stall or quit entirely or make loud gurgling noises, the problem lies most likely in the pump.

 

Thanks for that quick reply, good advice. I will have a look soon. Further suggestions welcome.

 

it is a manual trans and the p/s fluid level is fine. I took it to a garage and they couldnt see anything wrong. my p/s definately whines more than other mini c's. is this lookin like a pump prob?