Intermittent Power Steering Loss On Track
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 396
Likes: 264
From: Baltimore, MD
Intermittent Power Steering Loss On Track
‘01 Z06, 112k miles. Periodic track car since 2021. Last fall I lost PS in a turn on track on Saturday. Later that day and next day everything was fine. PS pump would whine coming off the track.
This year I flushed 2 quarts of fresh fluid. Old fluid was dark and burnt. Flushed by disconnecting return line from reservoir and turning the wheels lock to lock with the car off.
Took it to the track this past weekend and had no whining, but did lose PS a few times. It was always after about 4 laps in the same turn. It would alternate sessions of working and going out. Just no Power Assistance.
No leaks, reservoir is full. Never does it on the street.
Thoughts on causes? Trapped air? Bad pump? Bad seal in rack? Something else?
Thanks!
This year I flushed 2 quarts of fresh fluid. Old fluid was dark and burnt. Flushed by disconnecting return line from reservoir and turning the wheels lock to lock with the car off.
Took it to the track this past weekend and had no whining, but did lose PS a few times. It was always after about 4 laps in the same turn. It would alternate sessions of working and going out. Just no Power Assistance.
No leaks, reservoir is full. Never does it on the street.
Thoughts on causes? Trapped air? Bad pump? Bad seal in rack? Something else?
Thanks!
Last edited by schaumi; Apr 30, 2026 at 10:34 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,360
Likes: 1,127
From: Dyer, IN
‘01 Z06, 112k miles. Periodic track car since 2021. Last fall I lost PS in a turn on track on Saturday. Later that day and next day everything was fine. PS pump would squeal coming off the track.
This year I flushed 2 quarts of fresh fluid. Old fluid was dark and burnt. Flushed by disconnecting return line from reservoir and turning the wheels lock to lock with the car off.
Took it to the track this past weekend and had no squealing, but did lose PS a few times. It was always after about 4 laps in the same turn. It would alternate sessions of working and going out. Just no Power Assistance.
No leaks, reservoir is full. Never does it on the street.
Thoughts on causes? Trapped air? Bad pump? Bad seal in rack? Something else?
Thanks!
This year I flushed 2 quarts of fresh fluid. Old fluid was dark and burnt. Flushed by disconnecting return line from reservoir and turning the wheels lock to lock with the car off.
Took it to the track this past weekend and had no squealing, but did lose PS a few times. It was always after about 4 laps in the same turn. It would alternate sessions of working and going out. Just no Power Assistance.
No leaks, reservoir is full. Never does it on the street.
Thoughts on causes? Trapped air? Bad pump? Bad seal in rack? Something else?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 396
Likes: 264
From: Baltimore, MD
I’m asking a technical question about my car, not a question about driving it on the track.
The track part is just where it shows up. I may ask over there but thought I’d start here.
The track part is just where it shows up. I may ask over there but thought I’d start here.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,360
Likes: 1,127
From: Dyer, IN
Right, and you experienced a problem that is reproducible only in a track environment, and most likely many C5 Auto-xers have seen before...which lead them to making changes to their systems.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 1,017
Bad steering sensor?
On my car I get the traction control and active handling fault lights sometimes and the steering gets heavy, then it will go away and steering goes back to normal.
I'm figuring the steering sensor is the issue.
On my car I get the traction control and active handling fault lights sometimes and the steering gets heavy, then it will go away and steering goes back to normal.
I'm figuring the steering sensor is the issue.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 627
Likes: 330
From: San Jose CA
I'm betting you are overheating the PS fluid. It could be the factory PS cooler needs to be cleaned (easy) or just replaced with a more HD unit
https://turnonesteering.com/product/...nd-cooler-kit/
https://www.gspeed.com/products/gspe...eee-1777609641
https://turnonesteering.com/product/...nd-cooler-kit/
https://www.gspeed.com/products/gspe...eee-1777609641
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 396
Likes: 264
From: Baltimore, MD
Thanks all. I recently flushed it with Lucas PS fluid. That cured the whining when hot but perhaps I’ve done permanent damage to the pump. I’d driven it on track dozens of times without this issue before it started but maybe that was just luck. I’ll clean off the factory cooler for what that’s worth. Perhaps a new Turn One pump is in my future. I have a bigger radiator to put in so might be a good time to do both.
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Advanced
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 66
Likes: 6
From: Texas
I bet you're boiling PS fluid on track. Bigger PS pulley and/or UD crank pulley will alleviate some of that along with upgraded PS cooler. Factory PS pump provide surprising excess of flow and pressure... enough to power a hydroboost on top of PS at all rpm.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 279
Likes: 7
From: L.A., CA.
Over rev = over heat
I replaced the internal gerotor with a 50% smaller unit. Over heat problem solved. PS still works at low speed
The PS pump is designed to work at idle, and over reving at track rpm, which causes over heating.
The PS pump is designed to work at idle, and over reving at track rpm, which causes over heating.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 815
Likes: 533
From: Miami, Fl
Interesting. Where did you source it? How difficult was the job?