PAS Hissing

[Denny]

Hissing noise from the PAS can be heard inside car when turning the steering wheel and it doesn't have to be full lock. Is this simply fix such as a fluid change or is it something else? There are no fluid leaks and the PAS seems to be working OK.

[MattDon]

its quite normal at low speed, bloody annoying though. If there is a "fix" i dont know about it.

[texas2201]

Agree the hissing snake under the dash seems to be a common issue ..........

[saska]

Hissing noise from the PAS can be heard inside car when turning the steering wheel and it doesn't have to be full lock. Is this simply fix such as a fluid change or is it something else? There are no fluid leaks and the PAS seems to be working OK.

The SE has always done this and changing the PAS fluid didn't change it at all.
The S2 has never done it but apparently Lotus revalved the S2 rack and this may be part of their reason.

[Marcus_uk]

The SE has always done this and changing the PAS fluid didn't change it at all.
The S2 has never done it but apparently Lotus revalved the S2 rack and this may be part of their reason.

My S2 has always done this...

[Denny]

Thanks guys. My mind is at rest.

[keithlard]

I call it 'the nest of snakes', and it's one of the many charming and individual features of the Elan, along with the glove box that doesn't shut...

If it is hissing particularly loudly, I tell my passenger: "The snakes are angry today!".

[tigerdog]

My Fed Elan also hissed loudly. Because I also have a minor drip from the rack, I changed out the fluid for some "Valvoline High Mileage" PS fluid with stop-leak (yes, I know Lotus specify ATF and not PS fluid but the Valvoline claims compatabilty) Nearly two years later, PS still drips, though not as much, but hiss is greatly reduced compared to when I bought the car.

[Blue_Bullet]

No I didn't just do a silent one! Its the car honest!

[Marcus_uk]

The SE has always done this and changing the PAS fluid didn't change it at all.
The S2 has never done it but apparently Lotus revalved the S2 rack and this may be part of their reason.

My S2 has always done this...

Until now... for some unknown reason it has stopped hissiing except (when i reach full lock). The only thing I have done is change the power steering fluid, but that was over 5000miles ago. I will dig out the bottle and find what fluid i used.

[steve matthews]

Old Fed. car never hissed except upon full turn.
New car you must turn up stereo. In process of changing fluid small bits at a time.
Elan ownership, may swap out pumps

Steve

[tigerdog]

Mine quieted significantly with a change of fluid. I broke the rules and went with non-approved "high-mileage" fluid because my rack was already leaking and I had hopes for its ability to swell seals. Rack still leaks but the steering is a whole lot quieter.

[Aoki Magic Pants]

My S2 used to do this when I first bought it. After a couple of months it suddenly stopped for some reason - perhaps because I'm using the car more regularly than it had been used previously?

[chris.t]

TADTS

[VagueShot]

Both of our Elans did this. The second has done it for eighteen years. I'll worry when it stops doing it.

[rip]

Once used to it, I find the noise quite comforting.

[Silverghost]

My S2 has always hissed. Except at the moment, it's doing it when accelerating in a straight line.

Any ideas why that should be?

[Specky]

When did you last change the oil?

Oil becomes hydroscopic after years of use and also breaks Down.

First thing I would do is change it,

the noise is generated by oil flow so you may have an internal leak. What does your steering feel like.

Replace the oil and see how you get on.

TTFN