Lost Power Steering

Pusherman · 04-25-2007, 12:02 PM

You're gonna love this one.....

While driving down Rt 64 in Western North Carolina, my power steering went out. We were between Cashiers and Brevard --- downhill switchback 2-lane road (and I do mean switchbacks!).

I fought it down the mountain, as there was no place to stop. Made it thru Brevard and stopped before I-26 south of Asheville.

Got towed to the Freightliner dealer in Asheville, and after sitting 2 days in their lot, we were on our way again with a brand new shiny power steering pump.

I don't recommend this way of finding out your power steering pump failed......

Pusherman · 04-25-2007, 12:02 PM

You're gonna love this one.....

While driving down Rt 64 in Western North Carolina, my power steering went out. We were between Cashiers and Brevard --- downhill switchback 2-lane road (and I do mean switchbacks!).

I fought it down the mountain, as there was no place to stop. Made it thru Brevard and stopped before I-26 south of Asheville.

Got towed to the Freightliner dealer in Asheville, and after sitting 2 days in their lot, we were on our way again with a brand new shiny power steering pump.

I don't recommend this way of finding out your power steering pump failed......

John_Canfield · 04-25-2007, 02:14 PM

Wow -

C Zimm · 04-25-2007, 02:32 PM

Wow again!
That had to be hair raising to say the least. I've lost engine and all power a couple of times on a Workhorse gasser, that was scary enough without any downhill. Glad that you at least had brakes and were able to fight it all the way. I can't imagine what was going through your mind, it had to be tight cheeks time.
Best regards....

Harry B · 04-25-2007, 02:43 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">While driving down Rt 64 in Western North Carolina, my power steering went out. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I can't beleive you held it on that kind of road. You must have had some workout.

I always wondered how bad it would be to loose the power assist on the steering of these coaches.

It must be undoable if you have one of these Safe-T-Steer or simular unit mounted on a coach, other than the Howard Center Steer unit. These units add another 250lbs of resistance.

jimandsue60 · 04-25-2007, 02:52 PM

Good job Don, do you need new seat covers? Glad nothing bad happened. I assume this was covered by freightliners warranty, steering pump and tow?

Hope all is well,
Jim and Susan

Sammie · 04-25-2007, 03:00 PM

Hi Pusherman, I just got my motorhome back from freightliner today with a complaint about noisey power steering. They told me that they could not find anything wrong.(normal answer). The thing that gets me is that they charged me $120.00. They say that if they don't fix anything they can't bill warrenty. I find this hard to believe as I barely have 1000 miles on the coach. Needless to say I will be on the phone tomorrow with Winnebago and Freightliner. Sorry to here about your problems. Glad everything turned out O.K.

Steve

Pusherman · 04-25-2007, 04:39 PM

Yes, I sure got a workout steering the coach around those switchbacks. Gotta tell you I was moving at only 5-10 mph in the turns, and maybe 30 mph in the straights (it was quite windy that day). I had an 18 wheeler behind me the whole way, and he must have understood that I was having troubles, as he gave me plenty of room.

Excellent point on some of those steering aids!

The towing and repairs were covered under warranty. I just love spending 2 days/nights in the coach in a Freightliner dealer area!!

In the Freightliner thread it seems there are a few failed power steering pumps happening.

smlranger · 04-25-2007, 04:59 PM

Don:

I've driven that road in a car....can't imaging doing it in my Journey with no power steering!!!

Do you mean to tell us that the folks at Freightliner didn't bring you hot coffee every morning??

Pusherman · 04-25-2007, 05:03 PM

No, but the folks from Gaffney seemed to 'speed up' my priority at the dealer getting the coach repaired. Got in at 8am the day after I got towed in. Unfortunately they needed to order the pump from Atlanta; was in by 9am the next day.

They sure were nice to me though...

Sammie · 04-26-2007, 03:10 PM

I called Freightliner today and spoke to a warrenty rep named John about my noisey power steering problem. He told me that TRW had them install a power steering fluid filter on the return line just below the resivour on a certain amount of newer coaches. According to him this has been a source of problems for them. He recommended that I go back to Freightliner and have them remove this filter under warrenty and install a straight line barbed fitting which will eliminate the filter and any back pressure that it may create. He said that he would then return my $120.00 that they charged me for their original diagnosis. In my mind this may be a cause for premature power steering pump failure. I did ask him about pump failures but he wouldn't say yes or no.

Fakrwee · 04-26-2007, 04:04 PM

sheesh, how fast were you going? I've had a car stall on me and lose power steering and brakes but never the MH thank God.

Pusherman · 04-27-2007, 09:55 AM

Luckily I was in the middle of one of those switchback turns when it completely went out, and hit the brakes. I was only going about 3-5mph after that.