Feroza Power Steer causing stalls

[MightyMouse]

The Feroza has been bugging me for awhile as when its low speed turning in mud etc it frequently stalls. Annoying....

So in a fit of "fix it" I checked out the manual as the little memory bell was ringing. Sure enought there's a valve on the power steering pump that should admit extra air to the manifold when the pump is working hard.
Obviously something wasn't working and found that the port on top of the throttle body was blocked up with engine crud.

Very difficult to see and fix. Having a spare throttle body was a help, not only was it gunged up but there is a small restrictor in the passage that was blocked solid.

Fixed this by removing the right angled steel tube - used a small drill and sucked the crud out.

Bingo air flows again - but here's the mystery still didn't do anything. Checked the plumbing and can't see how it could work. Pipe runs from behind the butterfly to the valve on the power steering pump back to bening the butterfly again. Where does the extra air get in ?

Replumbed it from the "black" air box to the valve then to the manifold and bingo - now when the pump works hard the idle steps up to compensate.

So if your roza stalls when turning hard - have a look at the port and check the plumbing..... Hope this is of use.

[murcod]

I read the subject and was about to suggest you check the airbypass valve in the power steering pump. Was the oil engine oil from the PCV?

[MightyMouse]

no the bypass valve works OK its was definately blow by oil ( once upon a time ). But the plumbing was strange as well.
Even now its not quite enough bypass air - the applause has a small vacuum operated bleed valve to add more air - but they also are trouble if the power steering valve isnt a perfect seal - which mine isnt.

The whole Feroza system is a bit of a compromise.....

Really needs electronic idle speed control which the new ecu provides along with the chev throttle body.

[murcod]

I've heard later model Applauses had electronic control of the idle speed- I haven't been able to verify if it's true of not.

[Fearhoza]

what models had power steering? i thought mine was meant to... but apparently doesnt.

[murcod]

Depends on what model spec Feroza you've got. My ELIII F300 has it (along with power windows, central locking, rear window wiper, velour seats etc.)

I don't think the DX / CXi had it? www.redbook.com.au might give a list of which did/ didn't but in the past I've found their specs for the Feroza models a bit vague.

[Mudsierra]

Mine's a SXP II, got power steering in it.

[MightyMouse]

mines an ELII - obviously has power steer, trim etc but no power windows. Go only knows how they optioned all the different models.

Havn't seen an Appluase with ISC, they have a more complex idle system ( but not by much ) and its an improvement in that the bypass air is adjustable. I have the extra valve but the sligth leak in the powersteer bypass causes it to not operate corectly.

Interestingly it produces massive hunting in idle speed - which reminds me of a post months back.

[murcod]

Interestingly it produces massive hunting in idle speed - which reminds me of a post months back.

You can actually get the "hunting" to happen by simply holding the throttle open a bit in neutral- hit the right spot and the engine will hunt all by itself!?! Obviously something not quite right in the EFI software.....

I discovered that when I was having issues with the TB air bypass sticking.

[MightyMouse]

No its actually the ecu going into closed loop operation, because of the inherent delay in the lambda sensor, and the fact that its just off idle its adopting a different strategy. As its not pushing a car you actually can see the rich / lean transitions - If you were driving then they are effectively masked out.

A failed contact in the TPS idle produces the by now infamous idle hunt characteristic.... common to so many HD's. latter Appluases had a much better ( read semi reliable ) TPS, but its not a plug and play alternative. If you know the right Bosch unit it slips right on and that it - fixed for ever.

There's been lots written on this topic elsewhere as its a common issue, basically caused by a very poor TPS switch design.