Power steering warning...

[DNS]

I started my car earlier and backed out of the drive, but when I went to swing the car round, I realised that I had no power steering and there was a warning in the screen below the rev counter (yellow steering wheel symbol).

I switched the engine off and started it and everything was fine. I've checked the manual for details of the warning but it's not in there. I've just done a journey round the M25 in it and no probs at all, nor did I find anything wrong when I drove it again later.

Anyone know what could cause this problem? Fluid slightly low? Would a low fluid level shut the power off completely?

The car has only done 50k so I can't believe the pump is faulty. I've never touched the system or topped it up at all (as far as i know, i shouldn't need to)

[old cruiser]

I would certainly check the fluid level first mate, however it's not uncommon for the pumps to go intermittent/pack up completely on these cars, even on a lot lower mileage than yours; fluid reservoir is located on the offside front, behind the bumper ( on pre-facelift models) and can be accessed by removing inner wheel arch or by removing the bumper.
Cheers Pete

[ade0303]

I started my car earlier and backed out of the drive, but when I went to swing the car round, I realised that I had no power steering and there was a warning in the screen below the rev counter (yellow steering wheel symbol).

I switched the engine off and started it and everything was fine. I've checked the manual for details of the warning but it's not in there. I've just done a journey round the M25 in it and no probs at all, nor did I find anything wrong when I drove it again later.

Anyone know what could cause this problem? Fluid slightly low? Would a low fluid level shut the power off completely?

The car has only done 50k so I can't believe the pump is faulty. I've never touched the system or topped it up at all (as far as i know, i shouldn't need to)

this happened on mine a few months ago (07 1.8vvt) did as you did, switched it off and back on... never happend since

[wickedwillie]

Ive heard loads of people having 1 off instances of this on the Vec C. I would drive and see, let it develop or otherwise. Thankfully, none of the instances I have heard of have occurred during the middle of a car journey, only on startup then next stop and startup things are back to normal. Might be an information collision on one of the data buses etc.

[VectraKings]

This happened to my Vectra C ('04 SRi) a few months ago too.
As mentioned occurred only at startup (as I was pulling away actually) and so had to reverse the car back into the driveway as didnt want to have a muscle workout while driving.
After a short while and restarting the car, the problem disappeared completely. Strange

[Hynzy]

Quite A funny story this, but I stalled the car in the early days of having it, and when i restarted it the powere steering light came on !!! what had i done i though.
I managed to get home as i was only round the corner, bt it was like driving a bus!
I rung up vauxhall and they sent out the AA. When he came out he realised it was getting now power, this was because the powere clip had jumped off when i stalled the car, and it had never been put on properly when the car was built, as it had a safety clip to make it hard/impossible to come off.

Best thing to do it make sure that the power cable it connected properly. I dont know where exactly it is, bt the man was reaching slightly left of the middle of the engine bay at the very back.

Hope you get it sorted