Steering Juddering when stationary & turning wheel

[jsr645]

Anyone got any ideas about this problem...?

I've noticed when the turning the steering when the car is not moving or moving very slowly, I am getting a juddering through the steering wheel as you turn it. It's like it is struggling to turn or the fluid is not circulating well, so it judders.

It only happens when the car is hardly moving or stationary and typically when the car is started from cold.
I phoned the stealers and they said it could be a lack of fluid or something and I should take it in asap as it could burn out the pump...

Anyway, car went in and they found no fault. Fluid fine, pump fine, steering system (according to them all is fine) - in fact they tried to blame it on my tyres needing changing!!! I challenged as the tyres have about 4mm tread remaining, then they said it was probably because the wheels were too big... even though they are the optional 19" wheels fitted from new from VX!!!
The tyres are Michelin Pilots and this is the second set, and this is the first time the steering has juddered.

So, the resulting blame was put on the cold weather... But, again the car has been in colder weather but I've never experienced it before, and now in the up to 9 Degrees weather we've had recently, it is still juddering, just the same as when the temp is -5... They also charged me £17 for the pleasure of doing nothing. (Wgrose cliftonville are scammers!)

Does anyone have any ideas? The car is just about to go out of warranty so I am not up for something major going after the warranty expires on 1st March!

Its a 2008 1.9CDTi 150...

Thanks,

[tony-1977]

I get EXACTLY this on my 2.2 DTi SRi (2002). Fluid fine, etc. Any ideas?

Someone said alternator, but it's showing 14.5 volts at the battery with engine running.

[lee gsi]

What colour is the fluid?

[tony-1977]

From what I can see, it's very dark.

[lee gsi]

It sounds like its not been changed for a while and absorbed water.

The first thing to do would be to replace the fluid.

[tony-1977]

Looked through all service history. Car is 2002 with 88k on clock. It's never been changed!

Where would it be drained from?

[lee gsi]

Undo one of the pipes on the steering rack and it will drain out.

[Josh]

i had this problem when the snow was here and it was cold seemed wen the car heats up it goes away.

[tony-1977]

i had this problem when the snow was here and it was cold seemed wen the car heats up it goes away.

I've only had the car since November, but it's noticeable all the time. Never really done anything, as no low fluid warnings. Going to manually check the level tomorrow (should be fun). If it's OK, going to change the fluid.

Prev owner said it started when she got new front tyres, and I trust her as best mate. Coincidence maybe?

[scott1uk]

Ive still got this problem aswell on my CDTi 150, mines like a twanging noise as i turn the wheel from left lock to right lock or vice versa. It was fine before we had snow on the ground for a week, someone said it could be grit on the base of the front springs and the twanging noise is the spring. I was just hoping the noise would go after a few jet washes but sadly no and if anything its getting worse