The power steering on my Zafira 2004 1.6 Life keeps stopping working. The steering becomes very heavy but when the weather is very cold it starts working again. Stop at traffic lights it warms up and stops working. I've checked the output from the alternator and it is giving 14V. I've also checked the fluid level and it is OK but the colour is amber rather than red or green(quoted colours from elsewhere). Could it be that the fluid is too runny but becomes thicker when it is cold? or does the output from the alternator change with temperature? or is the pump due for replacement?

Doug from Durham, December 2010

pump is on its way out, there are 2 choices on these cars either a TRW or a Delphi pump, u will find the make of your pump on a sticker attached to the control wires behind the fuse box in the engine bay

tam, January 2011