99 losing power steering on track
Thread Starter
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,360
Likes: 2,730
99 losing power steering on track
my wife had complained about steering getting really heavy.
i kinda dismissed it and now i feel pretty bad lol
my car was down needing tires balanced so i took her c5 to the track yesterday and within 5 good hard laps i lost all power steering. At the same time i had 129c oil temps. After 2 cooldown laps, power steering came back.
synthetic power steering fluid is full
so....did it boil and begin cavitation?
I have a hard time with that as it was hot but not puking hot. Coolant temps never exceeded 110c
We *did* have an error from the ecbm, it kicked her into reduced power. That only happened one time, and has never returned. When it happened the one time it was immediately following my reseal of the steering rack while also doing the hb.
So......
ive read about this magnasteer thing and how it can mess with power steering. I am a c4 guy, anyone care to walk me through a simple diagnosis to zero in on the cause?
thanks!!
i kinda dismissed it and now i feel pretty bad lol
my car was down needing tires balanced so i took her c5 to the track yesterday and within 5 good hard laps i lost all power steering. At the same time i had 129c oil temps. After 2 cooldown laps, power steering came back.
synthetic power steering fluid is full
so....did it boil and begin cavitation?
I have a hard time with that as it was hot but not puking hot. Coolant temps never exceeded 110c
We *did* have an error from the ecbm, it kicked her into reduced power. That only happened one time, and has never returned. When it happened the one time it was immediately following my reseal of the steering rack while also doing the hb.
So......
ive read about this magnasteer thing and how it can mess with power steering. I am a c4 guy, anyone care to walk me through a simple diagnosis to zero in on the cause?
thanks!!
Pro
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 691
Likes: 317
From: NW OH
Hey my magnasteer is broken… got c1241 code, the only code for this system. The PS works fine, it’s a bit heavy when stopped is all. Also can’t auto bleed the ABS. It’s just a coil in the rack you can ohm it out to check it.
Anyways if it came back after cool down laps it’s not magnasteer, sounds like hydraulic issue.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1559748883
Anyways if it came back after cool down laps it’s not magnasteer, sounds like hydraulic issue.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1559748883
Thread Starter
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,360
Likes: 2,730
thank you
thanks for the comment and help. plan is to flush the fluid for new very high temp stuff and see what happens.
if behaviour changes at all then also points to hydraulics.
will be install a cooler and then most likely a new rack. the pump has no whine at all so i doubt its the pump.
if behaviour changes at all then also points to hydraulics.
will be install a cooler and then most likely a new rack. the pump has no whine at all so i doubt its the pump.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 110
Likes: 2
From: SnoCo, WA
Are you running a cooler of *any* type at the moment? I just had this happen at Area 27 this week, though mine was puking hot. First time out with it, completely brain farted on installing a P/S Cooler (mine started life as a base non-Z51 coupe). In reading through the Spec Corvette forums, a cooler is a must and after my experience I'm inclined to agree.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
This may or may not be the same as an issue I had but here is what happened to me. When I would drive my C5 on twisty roads the steering seemed to get heavy but when just doing normal driving it was OK. My issue turned out to be the plastic steering pump pulley. It seemed OK when looking at it but when the “heavy” steering returned I popped the hood and although the pulley looked OK I brushed my hand against the metal shaft protruding from the pulley and promptly burnt my hand. Turns out the pulley was OK during normal driving but when demand was high the pulley was spinning on the shaft. Most likely yours is not that easy but maybe.
Thread Starter
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,360
Likes: 2,730
Are you running a cooler of *any* type at the moment? I just had this happen at Area 27 this week, though mine was puking hot. First time out with it, completely brain farted on installing a P/S Cooler (mine started life as a base non-Z51 coupe). In reading through the Spec Corvette forums, a cooler is a must and after my experience I'm inclined to agree.
Her car is a base 99 mn6 coupe. Even manual hvac which i liked !
I just picked up z06 suspension and a set of poly bushes for her.
additionally we will be installing a ps cooler, engine oil cooler (seeing 130c), a trans and diff cooler. We already cooked our first diff.
if u r running hard, you *will* cook your diff and doing a cooler on it is wwaaaaaaaay easier than replacing one haha.
will also replace the ps pump this winter. thank you for the recommendation guys.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,956
Likes: 520
From: Da U.P.
Hey there.
Her car is a base 99 mn6 coupe. Even manual hvac which i liked !
I just picked up z06 suspension and a set of poly bushes for her.
additionally we will be installing a ps cooler, engine oil cooler (seeing 130c), a trans and diff cooler. We already cooked our first diff.
if u r running hard, you *will* cook your diff and doing a cooler on it is wwaaaaaaaay easier than replacing one haha.
will also replace the ps pump this winter. thank you for the recommendation guys.
Her car is a base 99 mn6 coupe. Even manual hvac which i liked !
I just picked up z06 suspension and a set of poly bushes for her.
additionally we will be installing a ps cooler, engine oil cooler (seeing 130c), a trans and diff cooler. We already cooked our first diff.
if u r running hard, you *will* cook your diff and doing a cooler on it is wwaaaaaaaay easier than replacing one haha.
will also replace the ps pump this winter. thank you for the recommendation guys.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 186
Likes: 18
Are you running a cooler of *any* type at the moment? I just had this happen at Area 27 this week, though mine was puking hot. First time out with it, completely brain farted on installing a P/S Cooler (mine started life as a base non-Z51 coupe). In reading through the Spec Corvette forums, a cooler is a must and after my experience I'm inclined to agree.
As has been said, if you track you 100% need a power steering fluid cooler. Especially if you have a base C5 - even the factory Z06 cooler is marginal if you're going at any kind of pace. Put one of these in - very easy/necessary upgrade.
