I was able to get my hands on a 2007 Brera 3.2 JTS with only 58000km on the car. Unfortunately it has the red power steering fluid. The steering is quiet (though feels a bit heavy for an AWD) unless at full lock, at which point a whine can be heard from the outside of the car.
Is this the sign of a failing power steering mechanism as is common with the 939's, or is it normal for these cars?
Also if it is due to the fluid, is the car fine to be driven for short distances to be kept running until this is fixed?
Finally, if anyone has had this problem, how much did it end up costing?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated,
Cheers.
It can be causes by a couple of things -
A/ It could be the filter in the Power Steering Fluid reservoir has come loose and is causing cavitation (air bubbles) in the fluid which causes noise.
Fix - replace the reservoir
B/ There can be a pin hole leak in one of the lines, but this usually is obvious due to leaking fluid.
Fix - replace the culprit hose
C/ Worn Power Steering Pump, usually caused by the fluid level being allowed to get too low at some point and being driven, causing excessive wear in the pump.
Fix - replace the pump
And for this year of car the red fluid is the correct fluid. (Dexron III)
And don't forget to show off some photos or your new Alfa toy. 8)
Looks like I have a few things to check tomorrow, thanks for getting back to me. Good to know that the fluid is correct.
Is any noise normal at full lock, or does it definitely mean something may be wrong?
I'll post some photos tomorrow, been too busy taking it out when I can. Really fun to drive.
Quote from: WTBalfabrera on March 19, 2021, 09:23:49 PM
Is any noise normal at full lock, or does it definitely mean something may be wrong?
At 58,000 km there really shouldn't be any noise.
Looks like the steering pump will be the culprit, can't find any leaking fluid or turbidity in the reservoir. Due to the low km's the previous owners only stuck to servicing the car every 15000km not every 6 months, so its only been serviced 4 times in 14 years (well overdue). Thanks for the help and as promised some pictures.
No.2
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I recommend that you should get your car serviced every 10,000 kms or 12 months, whichever comes up sooner.
However if you wish to pamper your car with more frequent servicing it cannot hurt, but unless you're doing a LOT of kms in a short period of time, every 6 months does seem a little short.
Averaging 5000km/year for ten years.
Routine service scheduled every 12 months.
Yet to actually get through any year without a rectification visit to the workshop. :o
Quote from: kaleuclint on March 29, 2021, 10:49:52 PM
Yet to actually get through any year without a rectification visit to the workshop. :o
You're obviously driving it wrong . . . . ;)
"Stand aside . . . dead man walkin . . . stand aside . . . dead man walkin!"
;D ;D ;D
(Sorry, the devil made me say it)
Quote from: kaleuclint on March 28, 2021, 10:58:15 AM
Quote from: WTBalfabrera on March 21, 2021, 10:33:49 AM
... every 6 months...
Where did you get that???
That's typically what would be listed on my service interval indications from the mechanics I would have my cars serviced with. Though I probably drive more than most people to work each week driving approximately 210km each day to get to and from work. I'm using the Brera as a weekend toy as I can't put that many km's on it. Most of the cars I have had have had timing chains and the recommendation I have received in the past was to service every 10,000km or 6 months, whichever came sooner. Typically it was the 10,000km, I never reached the 6 months so I have no clue what the normal intervals should be.
'Morning all,
Is the P/S pump rebuildable? I can see it has a bolted on backing plate so it can be evidently disassembled etc...
I believe so, but never had one done.
Cheers Bazz. I'll investigate the filter possibly causing the noise on so far, only very cold startups. I had a leaking P/S hose which I had remanufactured and the noise has started since then...lasts for less than a minute....
Quote from: SeleMatt on May 28, 2021, 09:05:33 AM
Cheers Bazz. I'll investigate the filter possibly causing the noise on so far, only very cold startups. I had a leaking P/S hose which I had remanufactured and the noise has started since then...lasts for less than a minute....
That's the reason why I will no longer repair HP steering lines and only will fit new ones. There can be multiple problems with repairing lines, they can never get the positioning perfectly correct, making re-fitting a nightmare.
Also most people don't realize that the lines also have restrictors in them, and if they are not replaced/replaced with exact same one/positioned exactly, then all sorts of problems arise.
So the noise was cavitation. All is well thus far although Bazz's info on a re-manufactured rack line is less than cheery...
See what happens I guess...
Fingers crossed.