Technical Croma 2.2 Petrol - Leaking PS Fluid

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Technical Croma 2.2 Petrol - Leaking PS Fluid

Paddy0091

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Hey all, hope you're well?

Picked up a rather nice Croma 2.2 with 79k on the clock with FSH, and had it for a month now. Seems to drive really well on my regular jaunts from Derbyshire up to the Lake District where I'm working at the mo.

However, in the last week I've noted a small (but not insignificant) leak of power steering fluid, visible under the rack and on the cardboard I've laid out to check (red and clean fluid). No dash light yet.

Anyway, it's booked in for check on the 3rd, but in the meantime I want to find out a little more about this issue and anything I can potentially do.

This issue is also occurring alongside a bit of a knocking from the front of the car when going over bumps, so could relate to the steering column.

Any help to the following really would be most appreciated:

1 - Is anyone familiar with such a leak and it's probable causes and means of fixing?

2 - Is it possible to locate the power steering reservoir? (manual and elsewhere tells me main dealer!) :confused:

3 - Would it be worth speaking with a Fiat Specialist rather than the garage it's always previously been worked on?

Many thanks indeed :)
 
Hey Charlie,

Many thanks for the quick reply.
Sorry should have added, it's a 2005!

Thanks for that link as well, had been struggling to find a layout to give any indication.

I'll have a search re: droplinks

I'm currently in the Breaston area (M1 J25).

atb,

Paddy
 
Hi Paddy, like varesecrazy says knocking is most likely droplinks or some other cheap bushes. not expensive and easy to get including from ebay or eurocarparts.

Don't remember reading about a power steering fluid leak before though but most of the parts are really from the vectra c so are easy enough to get either new or from breakers. I needed a new power steering loom and the replacement's off a vectra, for example.

As far as garages are concerned, if you've got a good independent that you trust I'd stick with them. There's so much of the car that's really a vectra you'd probably get on better with a vx rather than a fiat dealer anyway.

Let us know how it goes please and if there's anything else just post and we'll try our best to help.

Also, download multiecuscan onto a pc and get a set of connectors off ebay so that you can keep an eye on the computers. You can't properly do an oil change without it as you MUST tell the computer that it's been changed.
 
Hi,
Power sterring fluid is DIY replaceable dispite what owners manual says. The tank is on top of the pump and can be seen if look down the back of the engine. It looks a bit like a large bleach bottle with a screwcap on top. You can download the workshop manual, eLearn, here https://www.fiatforum.com/downloads.php?do=download&downloadid=373
You need to get the undertray off and try to identify the leak location. It might be a loose union or faulty hose rather than pump or rack failure. While the pump is physically identical to the Vectra C unit, the built in software (firmware) is different and the Vectra unit won't work in a Croma. The ePer image Varescrazy linked to is a top category image and does not represent the actual system which is this:
emaps

The items 6 & 7 are seals that could be a source of the leak.

HTH,
Robert G8RPI.
 
Last edited:
Morning everyone and sorry for the late reply.

Really appreciate the time and all of your responses.Just downloading the service manuals now...

Will head out and scrape the ice off to locate this PS reservoir shortly as well

Many thanks, I'll be back!

Paddy
 
Hi,
No idea why not, it is even in your quote. What computer / browser are you using?
I got it one level down in ePer from the one you put in your post. It looks like ePer has the wrong image at the top level.

Robert G8RPI.

ePER opens,
your image doesn't:confused:

no problem - I'm sure Paddy0091 can search the forums version of ePER for themself
 
Hey all,

...and failing at the first check point. This compressed file link you've kindly provided doesn't want to extract - I've managed to get it up to the point where it's an iso file of about 350MB when upon opening it reads 'disc file image file is corrupted'

Any thoughts? sorry I know this is related to my original post, but would be really useful to have this to hand.

Many thanks folks, appreciate it
 
Hey all,

...and failing at the first check point. This compressed file link you've kindly provided doesn't want to extract - I've managed to get it up to the point where it's an iso file of about 350MB when upon opening it reads 'disc file image file is corrupted'

Any thoughts? sorry I know this is related to my original post, but would be really useful to have this to hand.

Many thanks folks, appreciate it

which one.. - the "download??"
 
which one.. - the "download??"

So all the individual eLearn sections of which there are 8 parts have downloaded without issue, I've extracted them in bulk so they're all <rar Archive> files and the folder now contains a large ISO file that I cannot open as it apparently contains errors and as such is corrupt.

Will give it another try I reckon,

cheers,

Paddy
 
Hi,
When you open the first RAR file it should generate the ISO file which is CD-ROM image. You then use CD writing software to burn the image to a CD-R. I use Nero for this. You then run the installation from the CD-ROM.

Robert G8RPI.

Hi Robert, thanks for the info.

Unfortunately the first file is also showing errors on extraction on a further fresh attempt:

fiat_forum.png


cheers,

Paddy
 
Thank you very much Keith,

sorry for the delay as I only just checked the forum.

Downloading the eLearn file you kindly sorted just now, will let you know how it goes,

atb,

Paddy
 
Evening all.
I've now got the car back, all issues sorted, here is the rundown:

Firstly the oil leak was from the nearside front driveshaft seal, a replacement was provided from Fiat to the local garage and fitted. Fluids all topped up.

The second issue I'd described was excessive play in an anti-roll bar link, this again was supplied and fitted.

Not ideal when I've only had the car for a month, total bill of just over £160.

I must thank everyone for their help, especially with trying to get the elearn service manual (which I couldn't ever get to run without errors!)

all the best,

Patrick
 
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