C70 power steering fluid loss + ABS light

[Hellcatrocker]

Hi,
Ive got a c70 2.5T '99 manual, the MOT has just expired and ive got a couple of problems any help would be appreciated muchly!

Power steering fluid/Rack:
I have been driving without powersteering but now the MOT has come up, i need to get it fixed. My mechanic (not a volvo specialist) has told me that i need a new steering rack. Is there some way to fix the existing rack so that it just stops leaking? As it seems to steer no problem. Im hesitant to get a refurbed unit as ive read about horror stories...
I also have a 97 2.5 S70 Auto sitting about, i was planning on just swapping the racks over but Volvo tell me that the C70 should have an SMI rack and the S70 the TRW. Ive read that some people have found their racks to be different from Volvo's database?!
How do I identify which rack I actually have? Also why cant the racks be interchanged?

ABS unit:
Okay so ive read up on the resoldering fix, just want to be sure the symptoms my car is giving IS actually the ABS unit: ABS light and engine light come on intermittantly, when this happens the speedo stops working, the amp for the stereo cuts out (I notice a substantial loss in music volume)

Cheers, i look forward to your replies

[RiPsTa33]

Lift the bonnet and have a look at the id plate on the passenger side inner wing, second box up on the right should have an 8 digit
code ending in 4 or 5

4 = TRW

5 = SMI

[dwc70]

racks are interchangeable they have different inner rack ends is all, I changed my rack for a refurbed at trw one it's as good as a new one and only cost £120ish.
as for the electrics, unsure, sounds like two different issues to me, take the abs warning bulb out for the MOT and fix it properly after it's passed?!

[acshortt5]

Originally Posted by dwc70

racks are interchangeable they have different inner rack ends is all

Really?? I was under the impression that the way the racks are attached to the subframe varied with the SMI rack having a crap bracket which is prone to breaking whereas the TRW sits on top of the subframe and simply bolts through.

In addition to the inner track rods being specific to the different racks, as you mentioned.

[Luxobarge]

Originally Posted by dwc70

as for the electrics, unsure, sounds like two different issues to me, take the abs warning bulb out for the MOT and fix it properly after it's passed?!

Not necessarily, the ECU requires a speed signal, which it gets from the ABS unit. If this is missing, it will put both lights on.

This being the case, I'd recommend you fix the ABS problem first, then only worry about the engine management light if it's stil on after the ABS is fixed and all codes cleared.

Could still be the ABS ECU, or it could be a sensor (or possibly a reluctor ring) - I believe the speedo is fed from the front left (N/S) sensor IIRC, so I'd start there. Well, no I wouldn't actually, I'd get the codes read first of all, but your call.

[MetB4]

If it was the speedo sensor on the N/S, then wouldn't the speedo be misbehaving too?

Just a thought

MB4

[Hellcatrocker]

cheers for the response people

So for the rack, i did look at the codes before and got stumped.. pretty sure the c70 ended in a 5 but the s70 ended in the letter S?? and it was def an S and NOT a 5.. any ideas?

If the S70 rack is trw would it be feasible/possible to change over the inner track rods as well and/or the enitre subframe?..

As for the ABS, im not sure taking bulbs out will get it through mot? I think something was passed a year ago where the bulbs all have to be working for it to get a ticket.

Yes I think getting the codes read should be my next job... Any recommendations on a cheap reader? Ive seen loads on ebay but dont really know what im looking for

[dwc70]

When I did my research on buying a rack I found that the racks were interchangeable but the trw is the better one.

By 2 different problems I was really talking about the abs light and the stereo amp cutting out.

Where is the rack leaking from? If it's where the pinion goes into the rack it's not worth fixing, if it's around the seals by the inner rack ends I think it can be fixed.

[Luxobarge]

Originally Posted by MetB4

If it was the speedo sensor on the N/S, then wouldn't the speedo be misbehaving too?

Read the description of the fault in post#1 again. The bit where he says the speedo stops working.....

[Hellcatrocker]

DWC70 Im not entirely sure where the rack is leaking from as Ive been driving without fluid for quite some time... When the mechanic and myself had it up on the ramps sometime ago we couldnt be entirely sure and thus he recommended a new steering rack.

By the way did you have an SMI rack before you put on the TRW one?

Cheers