I took my '07 CS for a tech inspection and oil change Friday. As I drove away I heard a groaning sound that depended on steering input. Turned around and had them look at it. PS fluid was down so they topped it up. Tonight I have driven 2hrs to attend a DE at Tremblant. Did not drive fast at all. When I stopped halfway I heard the sound again. And now it is groaning badly. What can I do? Top it up after every run (assuming someone here has PS fluid I can buy or borrow)? Or bail on the DE and return home to the dealer? For that matter can I drive it 2 more hours?
I'm so disappointed, I really want to do this DE as I won't get to this track again this year. I'll surf for past posts on this topic now. I just wanted to get something posted before it is late on the Pacific Coast in case someone can help before I leave for the DE at 7am EST.
Thanks!
Chris
I assume you've checked the level and it's low again? It there a leak visible on the floor?
I hate to say it, but when you're on the track, both you and you're car need to be at 100%.
Now I'm no expert at what the groaning and possible power steering pump issues will cause on the track, but I can tell it definitely be on your mind.
I know when I ran a track event last year and had my dashboard CE and VDC lights lit on my G35, it was a major distraction for me.
I hope things work out.
Run it at the DE and run it hard. If it breaks, great you'll know what the problem was and warranty will fix it. If it doesn't break then you know it is up to the task and can put it out of your mind.
K-Man, I can't find a post on this but I recall posts from the past about a clip on a hose that melts causing a fluid leak that you don't necessarily see leaking under the car. I recall this being a somewhat common problem. I'm afraid this might be what has happened as I topped up and essentially I have the moaning/groaning sound after just 1 hour of light highway driving. I'm concerning I will fry the PS system and strand myself at the track which is at least 1hr from the nearest dealer. Not a good situation to put myself in.
It is likely too late to give you any advice on what to do for your DE, but I would run the car and add fluid after each session. If you are hearing noises the pump is likely already shot. Of course, if the amount of fluid loss is significant you should park the car and not put others at risk.
There are several places where the PS system fails and leaks.
The compression fittings on the high pressure line and both the rack and pump leak after repeated overheating. Failure of the front fitting is evident by PS fluid spinning into the left front wheel. Seal failure at the pump is harder to identify, but does produce some fluid leaking onto the under tray and then on to the ground.
The greatest concern is failure of the seal between the plastic reservoir behind the pump (not the expansion chamber where fluid is added) and the pump itself. This failure is a result of the plastic reservoir “melting” and the seal between it and the pump leaking. This failure can only be corrected by removing the pump and replacing the reservoir. When this seal fails the fluid pools on top of the engine. I have heard one report of the fluid catching on fire in a 987
Boxster S
.
My car has failed at all three locations, so we undertook a likely overkill solution to the problem. We replaced the PS pump; removed the stock reservoir; installed a remote reservoir from the 993; installed a remote fluid cooler in the right side engine air inlet; and replaced the high pressure line with race car quality hose and fittings (required some machining). It is likely that if the car was healthy that only the remote cooler would be necessary.
Here is a link to the thread on the fix:
http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-modifications/25511-power-steering-system-modification.html
Cheers,
I decided to not run in the DE today for everyone's safety. There are no visible signs of fluid leaking so it must be accumulating somewhere. Having a failure on the track is not my idea of fun and not fair to other drivers if I dump on the track.
So I am at a dealer in Montreal. Been 4hrs now..... I'll forward your note to them but I suspect they are too arogant to read it and pass in on the the service tech as they wouldn't listen to anything I've tried to share with them so far.
Chris
good luck. if u don't want to do a lot of work u can install the pyrojacket insulation (so a seach on power steering insulation). it worked for me. the mantis underdrive pulley alone was useless but the two together (pyro and pulley) worked.
i went through 3 PS pumps. and an engine.
i now have a gt3 and used the
cayman
for spirited daily driving.
Final outcome
A leak near in the line near the steering rack. At least that is as good an explanation that I could get out of them. The part was not in stock Monday so it had to be ordered and luckily arrived Tuesday. By mid-afternoon Tuesday it was installed. Then they decided the PS pump was shot (don't get me started). They could not get it done Tuesday (why didn't they check it Monday and start on it then you ask? So did I) so I finally left the dealer at 11:30 and heading back to Tremblant. I got one run in and got black flagged (soon to be the topic of another post!).
I asked the lady at the service counter if the hose was cut, blistered from heat or rubbing? I didn't get a solid answer and she was not willing to check for me. I was so fed up with hanging out at a dealership for the better part of 3 days that I forgot to ask for the damaged part to check it out myself and report back to the forum. Lesson learned.
Chris
