Steering: 2007 V8 Steering problem

[j9sht]

My wife has a 2007 (56) XC90 V8 Lux, I understand it is the facelift version.

We have had the car for around 2 years now and to be honest has given us very few problems (Other than the fuel bill!!!), Until Now!!

When turning left at a junction at anything more than 15 - 20Mph we get a loud whining noise and the car appears to struggle to turn properly. When you turn right there appears to be no problem or noise?? It has got steadily worse over the last couple of months to the point today my wife said that on turning left into a junction the car only just avoided the central island in the middle of the road and she said it almost felt like the car was going straight on even though she was turning the wheel?

The only other thing that I am wondering if it is connected, is that we intermittently get the Anti-skid needs servicing light come on, this appears once or twice a month but as soon as you stop the car and restart it the warning disappears and it is not logged in the messages computer.

Would really appreciate it if anybody could shed some light on this. I’m going to get it checked over at the garage tomorrow but would like to get some knowledge to avoid the usual sharp intake of breath followed by a ridiculous main dealer bill.

[foggyjames]

One-directional loss of assistance like that is usually down to rack seals...which on a car of that age means a re-con rack. I would get one from Volvo, in all honesty...the cheap ones aren't worth the saving. Prepare yourself for a bill for circa £500 for the rack, plus several hours labour to fit.

In the first instance, though, get the fluid changed. It's relatively cheap, and if it does fix it (i.e. the old fluid has either exited the building somehow, or degraded to the point where it no longer has the viscosity to do the business)...you've just got a very cheap fix.

It could also be some part of the steering gear binding...but the left-hand-only thing shouts rack seals, to me. These things happen...I've got exactly the same to do on my V70R (although it is 13 years old...).

cheers

James

[j9sht]

Thanks for the reply, i have been googling this and there seems to be a fair amount of steering rack failures on the XC90. Not enough to warrant a design fault but clearly evidence of significant failures.

My point is our car might be 4.5 years old and well out of warranty but it's only done 30,219 miles is this acceptable or do you think i have any chance of the main dealer getting some good will out of Volvo if the rack does need replacing??

[Keyser Soze]

Originally Posted by j9sht

My point is our car might be 4.5 years old and well out of warranty but it's only done 30,219 miles is this acceptable or do you think i have any chance of the main dealer getting some good will out of Volvo if the rack does need replacing??

I'm sorry to say don't pin your hopes or hold your breath on VCUK dipping their hands in their pocket for goodwill. They'll worm their way out of it that's for sure.

My own personal experience, documented & anecdotal evidence on here and other UK based Volvo forums has shown that VCUK Customer services are not to be relied upon, do not put themselves out for the customer or do anything to promote & build reliability with the customer.

Your location says Cheshire? Near Chester perchance? If so I dare say that you'll be using Rybrook Chester?

[t5_monkey]

Originally Posted by j9sht

My wife has a 2007 (56) XC90 V8 Lux, I understand it is the facelift version.

We have had the car for around 2 years now and to be honest has given us very few problems (Other than the fuel bill!!!), Until Now!!

When turning left at a junction at anything more than 15 - 20Mph we get a loud whining noise and the car appears to struggle to turn properly. When you turn right there appears to be no problem or noise?? It has got steadily worse over the last couple of months to the point today my wife said that on turning left into a junction the car only just avoided the central island in the middle of the road and she said it almost felt like the car was going straight on even though she was turning the wheel?

The only other thing that I am wondering if it is connected, is that we intermittently get the Anti-skid needs servicing light come on, this appears once or twice a month but as soon as you stop the car and restart it the warning disappears and it is not logged in the messages computer.

Would really appreciate it if anybody could shed some light on this. I’m going to get it checked over at the garage tomorrow but would like to get some knowledge to avoid the usual sharp intake of breath followed by a ridiculous main dealer bill.

Sounds like the PAS pump may be on the way out - not sure why it's one way not the other.

Also... change the top-mounts, as if these are shot it will put a lot of extra work onto the PAS.

Don't take it to a main dealer, they are often expensive and inferior, post up to find a good independent specialist in your area.

Here's what I'd do if I had those issues:

- Get the fault codes read - if nothing comes up:

- Change the PAS pump
- Renew the front Wishbone bushes
- Change the top-mounts
- Get the Geometry checked

Hope that helps!

[Keyser Soze]

Originally Posted by t5_monkey

Sounds like the PAS pump may be on the way out - not sure why it's one way not the other.

Also... change the top-mounts, as if these are shot it will put a lot of extra work onto the PAS.

Don't take it to a main dealer, they are often expensive and inferior, post up to find a good independent specialist in your area.

If j9sht is in Cheshire & is close to the Wirral, I can recommend Drayton Motors at Clatterbridge or Graham Wrightsons at Oxton.

Otherwise Deeside Volvo at Connahs Quay http://www.volvo-servicedeeside.co.uk/ may be clsoe.

[j9sht]

Ok two trains of thought seem to be evolving.

1. New steering rack
2. PAS steering pump

From my initial investigations a new steering rack is going to be siginificantly more expensive than a PAS steering pump. Anybody else have a view as to which is more likely?

I am equidistant between Chester and Stoke.

[foggyjames]

Originally Posted by t5_monkey

not sure why it's one way not the other.

Because it's almost certainly not the pump Now I don't agree with the monkey-bashing (that sounds rude...) that some indulge in, but I think you deserve it on this occasion

Given the age and low mileage, you may be able to moan successfully at VCUK and get a goodwill gesture, especially if it has been dealer serviced. As KS says, he's just had a bad experience with them, but I have heard plenty of stories in the past of them helping, so they've either become super-tight recently, or he was unlucky. If not...it could be worse.

cheers

James

[Keyser Soze]

Looks like I've got me a stalker!!! Are you following me James?

In all seriousness I do hope that VCUK capitulate and help in this case, but there are two threads on here with three similar stories of VCUK customer services saying no.

In my case things could be construed as being a little tenuous but in this case, also in another thread where VCUK argued the toss over a £70 part for a MY2010 XC90, another forum user who's having D5 turbo issues at 17k and also your own experience with the wiper motors, are sure signs that VCUK are tightening their purse strings & sphincter in the current climate

Another tuppence worth for the pot!

regards
Kevin

[Dr. Rog]

The oil reservoir is full is it not, and not with foam?