Opel Frontera UBS. Manual - part 942

00 – 6 SERVICE INFORMATION

Problem

Possible Cause

Correction

GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING (CONT.)

Wandering or Poor
Steering Stability

Erratic Steering When
Bracking

Low or Uneven Trim
Height

Suspension Bottoms

Body Leans

Cupped Tires

1. Mismatched or unevenly worn tires.

2. Loose steering linkage ball joints.
3. Faulty shock absorbers.
4. Loose stabilizer bar.

5. Broken or sagging springs.
6. Steering gear misadjustment.
7. Improper wheel alignment.

1. Worn wheel bearings.
2. Broken or sagging springs.
3. Leaking caliper.
4. Warped discs.
5. Badly worn brake pads.
6. Tires are inflated unequally.

1. Broken or sagging springs.
2. Vehicle overloaded.
3. Incorrect springs.

1. Vehicle overloaded.
2. Faulty shock absorber.
3. Incorrect, broken or sagging springs.

1. Loose stabilizer bar.

2. Faulty shock absorbers, struts or

mounting.

3. Broken or sagging springs.
4. Vehicle overloaded.

1. Worn wheel bearings.
2. Excessive tire or wheel runout.
3. Worn ball joints.
4. Tire out of balance.

Replace tire or inflate tires to
proper pressure.
Replace ball joints.
Replace shock absorber.
Tighten or replace stabilizer bar
or bushings.
Replace spring (pairs).
Check or adjust steering gear.
Adjust wheel alignment.

Replace wheel bearings.
Replace spring (pairs).
Repair or replace caliper.
Replace brake disc.
Replace brake pads.
Inflate tires to proper pressure.

Replace springs (In pairs)
Reduce load.
Adjust or replace torsion bar.

Reduce load.
Replace shock absorber.
Replace springs.

Tighten stabilizer bar bolts or
replace bushings.
Replace shock absorber.

Replace springs (In pairs)
Reduce load.

Replace wheel bearings.
Replace tire or wheel.
Replace ball joints.
Adjust tire balance.

SERVICE INFORMATION  00 – 7

Problem

Possible Cause

Correction

POWER STEERING SYSTEM

HISSING NOISE

There is some noise in all power steering systems. One of the most common is a hissing sound when the
steering wheel is fully turned and the car is not moving. This noise will be most evident when the wheel is
operated while the brakes are applied. There is no relationship between this noise and steering
performance. Do not replace the valve unless the "hissing" noise is extremely objectionable. A replacement
valve will also have a slight noise, and is not always a cure for the condition.

Rattle or Chucking Noise

Poor Return of Steering
Wheel to Center

Momentary Increase in
Effort When Turning
Wheel Fast to Right or
Left

Steering Wheel Surges or
Jerks When Turning
Especially During Parking

Excessive Wheel Kick
Back or Loose Steering

Hard Steering or Lack of
Power Assist

1. Pressure hose touching other parts of

vehicle.

2. Tie rod ends loose.
3. Loose steering gear mounting.

4. Steering gear misadjustment.

1. Improper front wheel alignment.
2. Wheel bearing worn.
3. Tie rod end binding.
4. Ball joint binding.
5. Tight or frozen steering shaft bearing.
6. Steering gear misadjustment.
7. Sticky or plugged steering gear valve.

8. Entry of air in the power steering

system.

1. High internal leakage.
2. Power steering fluid level low.

1. Insufficient pump pressure.
2. Sticky steering gear valve.
3. Power steering fluid level low.

1. Air in system.
2. Tie rod end loose.
3. Wheel bearing worn.

1. Sticky steering gear valve.

2. Insufficient pump pressure.
3. Excessive internal pump leakage.
4. Excessive internal steering gear

leakage.

5. Power steering fluid level low.

Adjust hose position. Do not
bend tubing by hand.
Tighten or replace tie rod end.
Tighten steering gear
mounting.
Check and adjust steering gear
preload.

Adjust front wheel alignment.
Replace front wheel bearing.
Replace tie rod end.
Replace ball joint.
Replace steering assembly.
Adjust the steering gear.
Repair or replace steering gear
valve.
Bleed the system.

Repair steering gear.
Replenish fluid.

Repair pump assembly.
Repair or replace steering gear.
Replenish fluid.

Bleed hydraulic system.
Tighten tie rod end.
Replace wheel bearing.

Repair or replace steering gear
valve.
Repair pump assembly.
Repair pump assembly.
Repair steering gear.

Replenish fluid.

00 – 8 SERVICE INFORMATION

Problem

Possible Cause

Correction

POWER STEERING PUMP

Foaming milky power steering fluid, low fluid level, and possible low pressure can be caused by air in the
fluid, or loss of fluid due to internal pump leakage. Check for leak and correct. Bleed the system.
Extremely cold temperatures will cause air bubbles in the system if the fluid level is low. If the fluid level is
correct and pump still foams, remove pump from vehicle and check housing for cracks. If housing is
cracked, replace pump housing.

Low Pressure Due to
Steering Pump

Low Pressure Due to
Steering Gear

Growling Noise in
Steering Pump

Groaning Noise in
Steering Pump

Rattling Noise in 
Steering Pump

Swishing Noise in
Steering Pump

Whining Noise in
Steering Pump

1. Relief valve sticking or inoperative.
2. Side plate not flat against cam ring.
3. Extreme wear of cam ring.
4. Scored side plate or rotor.
5. Vanes sticking in rotor slots.

6. Cracked or broken side plate.
7. High internal leakage.

1. Scored housing bore.
2. Damaged O-ring or seal ring in the ball

nut.

1. Excessive back pressure in hoses or

steering unit caused by restriction.

2. Scored side plate or rotor.
3. Worn cam ring.

1. Air in the fluid.
2. Low fluid level.
3. Pump mounting loose.

1. Vanes sticking in rotor slots.

2. Vane improperly installed.

1. Damaged relief valve.

1. Scored side plate and vanes.
2. Damaged relief valve.

Replace relief valve.
Replace side plate.
Replace cam ring.
Replace side plate or rotor.
Repair or replace vanes and
rotor.
Replace side plate.
Repair internal leakage.

Replace housing.
Replace O-ring or seal ring.

Repair steering unit or pump.

Replace side plate or rotor.
Replace cam ring.

Bleed hydraulic system.
Replenish fluid.
Tighten mounting bolt.

Repair or replace vanes and
rotor.
Repair rotor and vane.

Replace relief valve.

Replace side plate and vanes.
Replace relief valve.

SERVICE INFORMATION  00 – 9

Problem

Possible Cause

Correction

STEERING COLUMN

LOCK SYSTEM

Will Not Unlock

Will Not Lock

Key Cannot Be Removed
in “OFF-LOCK”

1. Damaged lock cylinder.
2. Damaged sector.
3. Damaged park lock cable.

1. Lock spring broken or worn.
2. Damaged lock cylinder.
3. Ignition switch stuck.

4. Park lock cable damaged.

1. Ignition switch is not set correctly.
2. Damaged lock cylinder.
3. Faulty shift lock mechanism.

Replace lock cylinder.
Replace lock cylinder.
Replace park lock cable.

Replace lock cylinder.
Replace lock cylinder.
Repair or replace ignition
switch.
Replace park lock cable.

Correct ignition switch.
Replace lock cylinder.
Repair or replace the shift lock
mechanism.

Problem

Possible Cause

Correction

COLUMN

Noise in Column

1. Universal joint loose.
2. Shaft lock snap ring not seated.

Tighten joint.
Place snap ring in proper
position.