Checking the oil pressure in the power steering system (Opel Kadett E)

Removal and installation the power steering pump

Loosen the tension of the pump drive belt and remove it.

Place a container under the pump to collect the oil. Unscrew the hydraulic booster system pipeline fittings from the pump. Some oil will leak out.

Loosen the bolts securing the pump body to the tension bar and bracket and remove the pump.

The pump is installed in the reverse order of removal. After installing the pump, adjust the drive belt tension and bleed the hydraulic drive as indicated below.

Checking oil pressure

Disconnect the high pressure line from the power steering pump (some oil will leak out) and connect the pressure gauge hose fittings to the pump outlet and the pipeline opening. If necessary, restore the oil level in the power steering pump reservoir.

Start the engine at idle speed and add oil to the power steering pump reservoir again.

Turn the steering wheel to the left or right until it stops. The oil pressure should increase and reach its maximum value when the steering wheel approaches the extreme position. In this case, it is prohibited to hold the steering wheel in the extreme position for more than 10 seconds. A slight difference in pump pressure is allowed when measuring in the left and right extreme positions of the steering wheel.

Set the steering wheel to the straight-ahead position.

Close the pressure gauge valve for no more than 10 seconds, note the highest pressure on the pressure gauge and compare it with the pressure before closing the valve. If the pressure with the pressure gauge valve closed is higher than with the valve open, the power steering hydraulic system is faulty. If the pressure does not reach the highest value obtained with the pressure gauge valve open and the steering wheel turned to one of the extreme positions, the power steering pump is faulty.

Bleeding the hydraulic power steering

With the engine not running, fill the power steering pump reservoir with oil to the level of the edge of the filler neck.

Run the engine for a short time, stop it and immediately add oil to the tank up to the lower mark on the dipstick, which is built into the tank cap. Repeat this operation several times.

Slowly turn the steering wheel two or three times to the left and right by approximately 45° and two times all the way to the left and right.

Add oil to the pump tank to the normal level.

Warning: When the engine is cold and the temperature is 20°C, the oil level in the power steering pump reservoir should not be higher than the lower mark on the dipstick, and when the engine is warm, the upper mark on the dipstick.