power steering fault

[rookie mech]

hi
got a peugeot 406 hdi with a power steering problem the other day it suddenly lost all of its fluid which was down to a split pipe just under the engine. the pipe has been repaired refitted topped up the fluid and ran the car up turning the steering full lock to full lock but steering it still very very heavy as if it had no power steering again. also noticed that the power steering pump got extremely hot ? there are no leaks from the power steering and i have no idea what it could be do you have to bleed the system

does anyone have any ideas ?

any help will be muchly appreciated

[danthevan]

*usually* the pump will bleed itself, but if you don't mind losing a bit more fluid, fill it right to the brim and turn from lock to lock a few times and see if that helps. Failing that getting the fluid reservoir higher than the pump should do it.

[rookie mech]

i was led to believe it was self bleeding but this doesn't have seemed to happened i tried filling the reservoir to the brim but the steering is still the same the level went down alittle but steering is still very heavy

thanks for reply

[danthevan]

it's possible the rack or pump has had it then

[krd656]

from what you are saying it does sound as if your pump or rack have died.

Did you run it any distance at all with no fluid in it? I killed a rack that way once

[rookie mech]

finally found that the valve in the powersteering pipe was damaged (even though it had been repaired) so it is quite possibly that is the problem but yes the car was driven home about 4 miles with no fluid so i think also it has done further damage to the pump !