Power steering issues

[emijomo89]

Hello guys!

 

well let me get right into it... in the last few weeks, sometimes while I'm driving and sometimes as soon as I turn on the car, the power steering light comes on in the dashboard and the steering gets really heavy. it happens like every 4-5 days and then it just goes away on its own and the steering gets light as ever. sometimes it goes away if I turn off the car and back on, and sometimes it doesn't and I have to wait for it to go on its own which it eventually does.

 

My mechanic says the power steering pump has been damaged and that there's no way to fix it, and it needs to be replaced, but the only place I have available that sells new OEM skoda parts has it for way too much money (almost a third of what the car itself costs) 

 

is buying used a good option? is there any way to fix mine, despite of what my mechanic says?

 

thanks in advanced.

Edited 30 December, 2015 by emijomo89

[KenONeill]

You do know that the PAS pump on this model is electrically driven? Such being the case, I'd start by making very sure that the auxiliary drive belt isn't slipping, and the alternator is healthy, before looking at the PAS pump as the fault rather than a symptom.

[emijomo89]

yes I know my car uses a 10 pin power steering pump and it's electric. I'll look into what you're recommending, thank you very much.

[devonutopia]

Also get fault codes read on vcds.  Similar symptoms to a failing angle sensor too.

[Breezy_Pete]

Check whether your battery light comes on when you switch on the ignition and goes out once the engine starts.

[emijomo89]

Check whether your battery light comes on when you switch on the ignition and goes out once the engine starts.

 

it does

 

@devonutopia: will do

[sepulchrave]

A secondhand pump will be fine, it's quite a simple job, just remove the wheelarch liner and you can get at it easily, you can access the electrical connections through an inspection plate in the front bumper to release them.