Does anyone else have any problems with your power steering keeping up while autoXing. During some slalom type portions I lose power steering. I think if I were at higher rpm I might be OK? Maybe moving my big 18's is a problem too?

 

I notice that problem too on my 99. I heard they turned down the power assist from about 97 forward to improve the steering feel which may be causing what we feel. It just can't keep up when the rpms drop.

 

what rpm are you going thru the salalom at when you felt the drop?


when I do salalom I'm usually arond 3k in first and it feels fine

 

Well I wasn't particularity paying attention, but the last course had a very tight slalom area that probably brought my r's down below the 3K mark. Don't know for sure. I could have used first and probably should have, but then I would be around the 5k mark. Am I cavitating the pump or something?

 

YES!

I lose power steering around transition parts of the course (sharp right, then left).

It ****es me off.

 

now that you guys mention it... I guess I loss a bit of power too.. I thought it was tire or chassis flex , like when I take a fast left then a right... the steering gets really hard for a second when I steer it to the right hard, I have to force it over then when the car starts pointing the direction I want it to go it'll become normal again.

What I try to do is after I steer one direction, I just let the wheel go adn it'll center it self in .1 second if you're going really fast then I steer to the other direction.. that seemed to help

 

What you're explaining is pretty much what I'm experiencing. It's only on really hard left then hard back right or vice versa at AutoX. I've never experienced it on the street. Well, at least I'm not the only one. Unless there is an easy solution, I'm not going to worry about it.

 

I haven't really noticed that problem since i removed my 17" momos whiched weighed 52 lbs a piece with 245/40/17 RE730s. I replaced them with 16x7.5 300zx wheels and 225/50/16 S-02 tires. I believe the wheels weight ~42 lbs per wheel.

 

I have never felt anything like that, and I even have an UDP. I have done alot of races on alot of tight courses with no problems with the power steering. Could your belts not have enough tension and are slipping?

 

One member noted this at least a year ago, though it wasn't posted specifically in connection with auto-x'ing (I think he posted under the screen name 'larrfry'). I don't remember that the thread (5th gen) ever came up with a definite cause or a solution. Maybe the thread is still available?

Norm

 

well i autox for the first time this past weekend and on my last run in the last slalom i thougt my power steering locked up in one turn cause it was hard to turn the wheel (as if i had no power steering)....is this what you guys feel....i was freaked and wanted to check cables, connections, look for pinching maybe fluid flush, but maybe its "normal"

 

That's what I experience

 

yep... it's just something you have to live with or disconnect it.

it's a speed sensitive power steering pump iirc.

 

AutoXed again yesterday, same problem pi$$ing me off. It might be better to disconnect entirely. At least the input force wouldn't all of a sudden change on you then. I'm surprised more people don't complain about this, wonder if mine is worse that normal?

 

What kind of belts are you running? I have Goodyear Gatorbacks (which I put on when I installed my UDP) and never have had the problem you are having. Could it be that the stock belts just don't grip well enough for hard driving conditions?

 

I still have the factory on. My car only has a little over 40k on it. I have a definitive UDP laying around that I plan to put on soon. Then I will get new belts. I usually get Gates belts, they are good quality, but Goodyears are good also.

 

When I took off my factory belts off at 30K they were pretty worn out. I personally like the Gatorbacks better than Gates but that is just personal perferance I suppose.

 

Maybe I'll try the Goodyears this time. Do you remember what Sizes you ordered or what the part numbers are by chance?

 

I've had the same problem in my 3rd gen for a couple years now. I've replaced the entire steering rack and hoses, and the pump (twice!) to try to rectify the situation.


mine is so bad that it happens when turning into and maneuvering through parking lots. it's downright scary when you turn into a parking lot and there's a soccermom coming right at you in the SUV and you can't turn the wheel to get out of the way!

 

After my autoX experience I looked under the hood and I noticed that the fluid in the power steering reservoir was BOILING!!

I didn't notice the steering fade like you guys but the track took about a minute to get through, and I popped my hood to let everything cool off between runs.

I was looking into a higher temperature power steering fluid but never got around to it. I think that would help, does anyone have a suggestion on hi temp power steering fluid?

 

Holly crap! Are you serious. Never thought of looking at that. I've heard of this happening in some f-body cars.

 

I've also noticed this power steering "lag" problem - not just in Maximas and not just in autocross.

I've noticed it in a number of vehicles whenever making quick direction changes since I first started driving - in the 70's

 

No joke, it was about 80 degrees outside and I finished my third run, the heat pumping off my car was pretty intense, but I think it was mostly from the breaks, I even had trouble adjusting my tire pressure because it was so hot.

I have an 03 max automatic. The engine temp gauge never got above the middle, so I wasn't to concerned with overheating, but I opened the hood and saw the power steering fluid boiling.

For the winter I'm not going to worry about it, but as soon as the weather warms up I'm going to be checking it.

 

Thanks for the tip, don't know if that's what's causing my problems, but if that is happening to me as well, I should at least change the fluid to something with a higher boiling point.