Vague steering and fluid colour?

[veclee]

right just back from me jollies and over the 450 miles ive noticed the steering is abit vague and wandering a tat ive just down the inner tie rods and outer tie rod ends both sides and had the tracking done 3 times in the last 6 weeks sinces its been done cos i wasn't sure it was right and its been done by 2 different. Machines at 2 different places but they say its perfect so ive poped the bonnet checked the fluid expecting it to be red and its clear and very thin ? Is this right ? would this contribute to the vagueness

[veclee]

[plasma]

same problem as you mate, changed the tie rod ends and also the steering arms. Still got a wandering feeling to it. I'm next going to change the UV joints from the steering column to the Steering Rack, if that dont improve it then a recon rack will be going on.

[witty]

The normal colour is red for power steering fluid.

[Dre]

I have the same issue and I was thinking of changing the tie rod ends it will be interesting to see if the fluid change makes a difference so let me know how you get on , I hope its not the rack as they are not cheap . I have had mine setup on 2 different hunter machines and its still the same I notice it more when you accelerate it wanders to the right and the steering wheel will move a little and as soon as you take your foot off it drive straight again I have had my tyres change recently which made no difference at all so I know its not that causing the problem I find you have to compensate and steer into it sometimes

[veclee]

Yea ive noticed that ill be plodding. Along at 70-75 on the motorway slightly over to the right on the wheel go to the mddle lane then end up compensating to the left and it seems the same on single roads take a left bend then wheel to right. It dos seem more worse the faster i go. I was wondering if At first if it was the laser liner that was pants (do they need calibrating often) cos the first time the steering wheel came out over to the right the second time more to the right but thst was after the new arms and each time i had drov it for atleast 100 miles before i went back for the third time they said both the drives side wheels was out and with in 3 miles i was on the way back pulling to the left for the 4 time it was in it did come out with the steering wheel nearly straight but im fed up of taking it back to either of the places so im now thinking change fluid and see what that will do but need to know the correct fluid to use some one did say vx was green ( at my local shop my mate has left so i dont tent to trust the others) and amount so time to look through the how 2's

[veclee]

I have the same issue and I was thinking of changing the tie rod ends it will be interesting to see if the fluid change makes a difference so let me know how you get on , I hope its not the rack as they are not cheap . I have had mine setup on 2 different hunter machines and its still the same I notice it more when you accelerate it wanders to the right and the steering wheel will move a little and as soon as you take your foot off it drive straight again I have had my tyres change recently which made no difference at all so I know its not that causing the problem I find you have to compensate and steer into it sometimes

Just out of courosity what is your engine as your could be torque steer if its doing it unter acceleration

[omega63]

The normal colour is red for power steering fluid.

Not always preface Vec C,s and Astra G,s use a synthetic fluid and its green in colour, not sure about facelift Vec C,s, when you remove the cap you can see the colour....

[veclee]

Im preface 05 1.8 petrol and when i dipped my finger in it it was thin and looked clear cant see in the bottle at the back of the engine

[omega63]

Vectra c,s use a system called " electro/hydrualic power steering, EHPS", basically via the CIM, steering column inclination sensors and speed sensor the electro/hydraulic pump switches on/off. Maybe at slow speeds and straight ahead the pump is still operating, a fault in the pump, cim, inclination sensors, and speed sensor could be your fault, any of these could cause the steering to feel light and vague....