we have recently had a new stereo fitted to our vauxhall zafira club 2003 model and the steering wheel is very difficult to turn whilst driving and there is now a leak from the bottom left of the vehicle.

pauline duffield, September 2009

We have now taken the car to a Vauxhall dealership after it was discovered that a 80amp fuse had blown near the engine and when they replaced it with a new 80amp fuse it blew as soon as the ignition was turned on. We were advised to take the car to reg vardy and they insist that the car needs a new power steering motor at a cost of around £600 and apparently the leak looks like something has been topped up and just drips from that. The car is running a 8000w amp and a 3000w amp and a 80w head unit but the amps nor the new stereo were running when the new fuse blew at the first garage.

shadow81, September 2009

Have you checked the oil level in the power steering reservoir?
Have you checked all the fuses?
If the leak is near the front of the car it could be a split or loose hydraulic hose/pipe.
If it's just behind the front wheel it could be a leaking seal on the PS rack, look for a swollen or split gaiter.

The leak may be from somewhere else, and nothing to do with the steering
.
If the PS oil level is OK then the problem is probably down to a bad radio install. The original radio uses the speed signal to control the auto volume adjustment, if the radio is incompatable with this, or the fitter has hacked the wiring, the signal will be corrupted. As the PS is speed sensitive this can cause your problem.

So basically, check PS oil level, check fuses, if that's OK refit original radio/check radio wires for hacks. If that doesn't work it may be the PS pump has simply failed, not uncommon.

http://www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx?content=vauxhall_zafira_electric_hydraulic_power_steering_pump

paul888, September 2009