well?

 

Loud is a realitive turn, but I think what you are describing is more or less typical...check your fluid level though... In 2005 mini revised the ps pump to make it more quiet...but it is common to have some noise when the pump is running...it only runs when it us called to turn the steering rack.
On auto cars, and on convertables, all "s" if I remember right, the ps pump fan duct was factory installed on 2005+ cars, an item, that mini said in press releases would "eliminate or greatly reduce" the incedence of ps failures hitting mini's at the time.
Since it has been said that the ps pump is a wear item, there are a few things that can be done to potitentially extend it's life.
1) matain the cooling fan
2) keep the car in proper alighnment...driving around town with the wheel turned to keep going stright keeps the pump running.
3) IMO retrofit the ps pump fan duct from the cabrio's "s" to r-53's to protect the fan, and ensure a supply of cool air to keep pump cool, extending it's life...$80 bucks from moss mini, and about an hour on your back to install.

 

Thanks very much for the reply and info! I will check the level and try to get an alignment soon. That may be the issue. THX!

 

My best guess is the fuse in the passenger compartment was for the ps fan...so when ps pump motor got too hot...it would fail..just shutoff....then when it cooled down, would start to work...it is just a big dc motor with brushes.....hopefully pump stays alive!!

 

I've got a 08/02 MINI with 10600 the p/s pump stopped working around 75000. Then I started feeling this clunk or skip in the steering. I was told the lower spindal guide sleeve. I thnk u-joint or rack.

 

Does anyone make a manual non-power rack and pinion replacement for the IMini? I have a 2009 Clubman with some problems and I would rather replace the whole thing with straight r&p steering and be done with it.

Jack Rickard
http:EVTV.me

 

Our 04 Cooper S had the power steering pump fail just before it went into its usual hibernation at 28,500 mi, and soon is the time to take it out again. I just called the dealer who flatly denied that the power steering pump was a problem on these cars, and claimed that forums such as these were misleading considering they sell 200,000 cars a year, that 1k$ was all he would lighten our wallet for to fix the problem, and besides it could be harness, fuse and what not. It had the usual symptoms, goes out, comes back on when you restart, and finally gives up the ghost. I have no doubt that the pump is dead.
28,500 mi in the summer only. I am disappointed. It goes to our usual mechanic whom I can recommend to anyone living in this area.

 

Surely someone must make a stock manual rack and pinion that could be made to fit. In this way, you could replace the whole assembly and been done with it. You'd forfeit speed variable steering, but also all the headaches of maintaining it. And it would probably have better road feel.

Jack Rickard

 

My wife's car has had lots of P/S problems. We are on our third fan, Second pump and second steering rack.

 

Hey guys, I was told after i got my car tuned that my power steering might be going bad, he turned my wheel and i always thought the noise was normal but he said it wasnt and my PS might be going bad.


also, Ive noticed sometimes my headlights will flicker when the power steering kicks in. Is this normal?

 

From what I have read and understand the pump fails due to the brushes being worn.
Is their a pump rebuild kit out there that is cheaper then buying a reman or a new pump?

 

We ordered the Mini book so we knew what we were doing, dropped the pump ourselves sent it to Massachusetts to remanufacture it then reinstalled. Lifetime warranty and no issues

Wayyyyyyyyyyy cheaper than the dealer.........$365 -vs- $1900 and free return shipping.

 

$1900???? I charge $1100 complete installed, parts, labor and taxes - an I thought I was high!!

The rebuild cost is pretty sweet though - I'll do that when mine goes

 

I was out for a drive and turned my music off to find an odd humming noise. At higher speeds I thought it went away, but I think it's just too quiet to hear at all. After a little troubleshooting I've found it gets much louder when I'm at a standstill and turn my wheel to nearly full lock positions, but when moving and turning it does not get louder. The sound is also intermittent, and after the car has been sitting and I first start it I must turn the wheel to hear it again.... any ideas anybody?!

Also, there are no problems actually steering the car (yet, anyway) so I'm not sure if it could possibly be leading up to a power steering pump failure?

Thanks!!!
Chubby

 

Sorry, but it sounds like you will need a new PS pump Heres a good removal/install DIY. Its really simple to fix. Even those without ANY mechanical skills can do it. Good Luck.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...tructions.html

 

Partially true. Actually, the brushes are fairly beefy and have enough mass to last for a long time. The real culprit is all of the gunk they create over time as they naturally wear. The dust and goo manages to penetrate into all of the nooks and crannies in the internal workings of the electrical side of the EHPS Pump. And since there is a circuit controller card located such that it is internal to the pump casing, the debris from the brushes--which is highly conductive--can find its way to it and short it out in many unusual and creative ways. That's why these pumps tend to exhibit such strange and varied behaviors in their dying days (intermittent operation, continuing to run after engine shutdown, etc.). Excessive heat due to a failed pump fan seems to accelerate and exacerbate the dirty motor symptoms.

If an energetic DIYer were to commit to tearing down, cleaning, and reassembling their EHPS pump every 25K miles or so, the pump would likely be very reliable and last a very long time without issue. The hydraulic side of the pump is pretty well designed and heavy duty.

 

If someone could find a way to:

-add a circulating pump to the fluid system and
-attach it to a small filter (one that could be easily removed and replaced) as well as a
-SMALL radiator (much like an oil cooler) and
-have the cleaned and cooled fluid run back into the PS pump

The PS unit would last a long time with no problems.

 

The PS Pump on my MCS 2002 went out after 85K miles on it. Looking for alternatives. After reading the posts on every forum available, I still think that it shouldn't be difficult to repair the PS Pump by myself. Have to replace the brushes and bearing, clean the whole system and test the electronics ( that's were I'm stuck, as I cannot find any diagram). Paying between $200 to $480 for the PS ( rebuilt or "new") still too much, as probably you can repair the whole system wiht less than $100. I'm working on adding a circuit to protect the PS Pump ( thermal switch ) that will allow the PS Fan to run without waiting for the engine temp or the A/c to be on, also designing a heat shield to protect the PS Pump.
The question is : who can provide the PS Pump drawings so I can repair my pump?

About the last post, to use a cooling system for the PS fluid sounds great, I will start digging into that one, however first I'll check the PS Fluid temp, as I think that the overheating is coming from the DC motor and the proximity to the engine, don't know by now if cooling the fluid will make a difference.

I'll keep posting my progress on this subject.

 

I did this to my pump about a year ago. It would cut out intermittently and became very predictable. After cleaning it, it was good for about 2 months then acted up again only not nearly as frequently. I've been told by a rebuilder that a pump that runs after shut down can be repaired by them, but the cutting off problem is fixed by rewinding the motor, something they can NOT do. With that being said, the new ZF pumps are much more reliable that the rebuilds (they are NOT re-manufactured) and even though its not a hard job for any DIY'er its not something I would want to have to do too often. Especially for the mechanically challenged that has to pay to have it replaced, you only want to do it once. For that reason, I do not offer rebuilt units to my customers, and in 6 years I have never had to warranty one or do it again. Just my 2 cents

 

I agree with everything you say, but the difference in your experience is that the pump rebuild/cleaning took place after experiencing the intermittent cutting out. One could safely conclude that when the pumps start behaving badly, some sort of irreparable damage has already occurred to the printed circuit board internal to the pump casing, or perhaps the windings. Once you get to that point, no amount of mere cleaning is going to fix the problem for any appreciable length of time. As you state, a swap to a new ZF pump is the only way to proceed at that stage.

To further clarify my earlier post, I think one needs to commit to tearing down and cleaning their EHPS pump at regular intervals as a normal, routine maintenance item starting early on in the life of their MINI (i.e., while it [the pump] is still working normally and way before it starts to act up). This would likely extend the life of the pump dramatically -- but it would take a lot of motivation and commitment to adopt this practice. Even I don't like taking things apart that are working just fine.

 

I took it apart, cleaned it, and put it back together and so far so good.

Like others have said, the brushes are robust. I never had intermittent operation, so I can't comment on that. But if I get another 25k-50k out of the cleaning, I'll be happy.

matt

 

I've searched, but I can't seem to find an answer...

2004 MINI Cooper S 40th Anniversary edition.

New power steering pump arrived on Friday. New power steering pump fan arrived on Saturday. The fan has a box between the harness connector and the fan. There's no means to attach it to the original bracket. Anyone know what's in this box? Can I ditch it, or do I need to buy a new bracket? From the picture at Bavarian Autosport, it looks like the new fan bracket has a holder for this box. Wish I had known that ahead of time. I don't see the bracket available separately from BMW.

My car has the original oil temperature gauge setup. Looks like I'm going to have to lose that, at least for the moment. The connector for it is in the way of the duct kit for the power steering fan, and it looks like the tab itself from the temperature sensor is an issue as well so I can't rig something. I'll have to see if I can find a different VDO sensor that I can make work.

 

Sent my pump to BBA to be refurbished. Got it back and my mechanic said it wouldn't turn off, so it was sent back again. Anyone have this problem?

 

That's a typical symptom of a failed pump.

 

The little black box in the fan bracket is the SPAL controller for the fan. You need this little box to control the fan, probably you can relocate it by splicing the wiring, however the fan housing should have the bracket to keep it in place.