Avensis 2litre Estate V Reg - Losing Power Steering For Two Seconds -

[ashtony]

Hi all. Hoping the Avensis users community can help with this odd and v irregular transient fault?

Over 5 months, 3 times now, my avensis has randomly lost power steering for just a blip of two seconds. Once was in very torrential rain. Once was immediately on start-up and now just this weekend it was after 4 hours of solid driving.

Each time there is no indicator warning light. Each time, with no noise etc, the steering goes suoper heavy. The natural inclination is to turn the steering wheel back and forth and each of the three times, the car has just reverted to normal.

The hydraulic system is well topped up.

Hoping for some great helpful tips please. Many thanks. Tony in Bow, East London

[gazza1286]

The power steering pump is belt driven and it sounds as though it could be slipping under certain conditions. This may result in the behaviour you describe.

If the same setup as the 1.8 of that era tensioning the belt isn't too difficult. On the pump housing there is a lower pivot bolt and a second pinch bolt which maintains the tension in the belt similar to the type commonly seen on alternators.

Both bolts need to be slackened to enable the pump housing move on its pivot. Increasing the tension requires a long lever (pry bar) to hold the housing in place when re-tightening the bolts. Hand pressure is not enough.