Suzuki Grand Vitara JB627. Service manual - part 261

6C-5 Power Assisted Steering System: 

Steering Wheel Check

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• Check steering wheel for looseness or rattle by trying 

to move it in its shaft direction and lateral direction.
If found defective, repair or replace.

• Check steering wheel for play, holding car in straight 

forward condition on the ground and with engine 
stopped.

Steering wheel play “a”
: 0 – 30 mm (0 – 1.2 in.)

If steering wheel play is not within specification, 
inspect as follows and replace if found defective.
– Tie-rod end ball stud for wear
– Lower ball joint for wear
– Steering shaft joint for wear
– Steering pinion or rack gear for wear or breakage
– Each part for looseness

Steering Force Check

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1) Place vehicle on level road and set steering wheel at 

straight-ahead position.

2) Check that tire inflation pressure is as specified. 

(Refer to tire placard.)

3) Start engine and keep it running till power steering 

fluid is warmed to 50 to 60 

°C (122 to 140 °F).

4) With engine idling, measure steering force by pulling 

spring balancer hooked on steering wheel in 
tangential direction.

Steering force
: Less than 30 N (3.0 kg, 6.6 lb)

Abnormal noise

Air drawn in due to insufficient amount of 
fluid

Add fluid and purge air.

Air mixed into fluid from pipes or hoses Replace pipes or hoses.
Slipping (loose) P/S belt

Adjust belt tension.

Worn P/S belt

Replace belt.

Loose gear case fastening bolt

Retighten bolts.

Loose linkage or joints

Retighten.

Pipes or hoses in contact with part of 
vehicle body

Install pipes and hoses correctly.

Vanes of P/S pump defective

Replace defective part.

Malfunction of control valve in gear case Replace gear case.
Bearing of P/S pump shaft defective

Replace bearing.

No idle up

Power steering pressure switch 
defective

Replace power steering pressure switch.

Condition

Possible cause

Correction / Reference Item

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Power Assisted Steering System:  6C-6

Steering Wheel Recovery Check

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WARNING

!

 

When performing a check, select a place 
where there is no traffic or possibility of a 
traffic accident and be very careful during 
testing to avoid occurrence of an accident.

 

Check steering wheel for recovery as follows.

1) Rotate it to either right or left end.
2) Keep it at the end, and start the vehicle slowly.
3) Accelerate vehicle slowly.

If steering wheel begins to return at the vehicle speed 
less than 10 km/h (6.3 mph), it is normal condition.
If the check result is abnormal, diagnose the fault part 
referring to “Poor recovery from turns” in “P/S System 
Symptom Diagnosis”.

Idle Up System Check

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1) Warm up engine to normal operating temperature.
2) Turn A/C switch OFF, if equipped.
3) Turn steering wheel fully and check idle speed.

Engine idle speed drops a little momentarily when 
steering wheel is turned fully but returns to its 
specified level immediately. 
If power steering pressure switch connector is 
connected, check the same with that connector 
disconnected.
Momentary drop of engine idle speed should be less 
when it is connected than when disconnected.

Hydraulic Pressure in P/S Circuit Check

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1) After cleaning joint of high pressure hose and P/S 

pump thoroughly, disconnect hose from pump and 
install special tool (oil pressure gauge, attachment 
and hose).

CAUTION

!

 

Take care not to cause damage to A/C 
condenser during service operation, if 
equipped.

 

Special tool
(A):  09915–77412
(B):  09915–77420

1. P/S fluid reservoir

4. Union bolt

2. Attachment

5. High pressure side

3. Gasket

6. Low pressure side

(A)

(B)

(B)

5

1

6

(A)

(B)

2

5

4

3

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6C-7 Power Assisted Steering System: 

2) Check each connection for fluid leakage and bleed 

air. Refer to “P/S System Air Bleeding Procedure”.

3) With engine idling, turn steering wheel and warm up 

engine till temperature of fluid in tank rises to 50 – 60 

°C (122 – 140 °F).

4) Check back pressure by measuring hydraulic 

pressure with engine idling and hands off steering 
wheel.
When back pressure is higher than specified values, 
check control valve and piping for clogging.

Back pressure
Lower than 1000 kPa (10 kg/cm

2

, 142 psi)

5) Check relief pressure.

a) Increase engine speed to about 600 r/min. (rpm). 

Close gauge valve gradually while watching 
pressure increase indicated by gauge and take 
reading of relief pressure (maximum hydraulic 
pressure).
If it is higher than specified values, possible 
cause is malfunction of relief valve.
If it is lower than specified values, possible 
cause is either failure of P/S pump or settling of 
relief valve spring.

Relief pressure when gauge value is closed
: 7650 – 8350 kPa (76.5 – 83.5 kg/cm

2

, 1088 – 

1187 psi)

CAUTION

!

 

Be sure not to close gauge valve for longer 
than 10 seconds.

 

b) Open gauge valve fully and increase engine 

speed to about 1500 r/min. (rpm). Then turn 
steering wheel to the left or right fully and take 
reading of relief pressure.
If it is higher than specified values, possible 
cause is malfunction of relief valve.
If it is lower than specified values, possible 
cause is failure in steering gear case. Replace 
gear case.

Relief pressure when gauge value is opened
: 7650 – 8350 kPa (76.5 – 83.5 kg/cm

2

, 1088 – 

1187 psi)

CAUTION

!

 

Be sure not to hold steering wheel at fully 
turned position for longer than 10 seconds.

 

1. P/S fluid reservoir

4. P/S gear case

2. Gauge valve (open)

5. High pressure side

3. P/S pump

6. Low pressure side

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2

3

5

1

6

4

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1. P/S fluid reservoir

4. P/S pump

2. Gauge valve (shut)

5. P/S gear case

3. Oil pressure gauge

1. P/S fluid reservoir

4. P/S pump

2. Gauge valve (open)

5. P/S gear case

3. Oil pressure gauge

2

4

1

3

5

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2

4

1

3

5

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Power Assisted Steering System:  6C-8

Repair Instructions

P/S Fluid Change

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CAUTION

!

 

Do not use any fluid other than the specified 
P/S fluid. Use of any fluid other than the 
specified P/S fluid may cause juddering or 
some other faulty condition to occur.

 

1) Lift up vehicle.
2) Remove front under cover.
3) When engine is cool, remove P/S gear low pressure 

hose (1) from pipe and drain P/S fluid from low 
pressure hose.

4) Install low pressure hose to pipe.
5) Fill specified P/S fluid and bleed air referring to “P/S 

System Air Bleeding Procedure”.

P/S fluid specification
: Equivalent of DEXRON

®

-II

P/S fluid capacity reference value
: 0.7 – 0.8 liters (1.48/1.23 – 1.69/1.41 US/Imp.pt)

P/S Fluid Level Check

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With engine stopped, check fluid level indicated on P/S 
fluid reservoir, which should be between “UPPER” and 
“LOWER” marks. If it is lower than “LOWER” mark, fill 
fluid up to “UPPER” mark.

NOTE

• Be sure to use an specified power steering 

fluid.

• Fluid level should be checked when fluid is 

cool.

 

1

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