Hello and Thank you, I have a 2003 voyager with 72,000 miles. This past May I was backing straight out of a parking spot and when I went to turn right I had a sudden loss of power steering. I forced it to turn and heard a "POP" I drove around the parking lot and every right turn there was difficulty turning with a "POP" under my feet. I took it to my garage overnight and he couldn't find anything wrong but suspected that it might be the rack. So I had this hard to turn right car that clicked under my feet every time I would move the steering wheel to the left. The "pop" stopped.
I took it to another garage and was told that it was my rack and pinion. I had the rack/pinion replaced, power steering pump, outer tie rods and wheel stud and nuts. Had the emission and inspection done also since it was there. I pick up the car and it felt like I was driving a bumper car, The steering was comical. it would just turn with no resistance and it would stay that way. continue in circles while driving.every bump and uneven road the wheel lurched out of my hands but at least I had no problem turning right. That night my husband drove the car home from the movies and we had a little rain coming down. The car was 'floating" on the road and losing traction. I drove it back to the garage today (little rain) and I had to white nuckle the steering wheel for 15 miles to the garage. The car felt like I was skating on ice. The car felt like it didn't connect with the road. my steering and wheels felt like they were not connected with each other. I was really scarred. I told the mechanic that they had to have known something was wrong because they put an extra 40+ miles on it. I understand you need to run it but it took a week to reset everything. I would rather have my hard to turn right rack back. Any ideas?

also my topcoat is flaking and I am having window wiper issues when I turn it off it just stops where it is at, but it is a really good car. right passenger window won't go down but goes up.....

 

Good grief! it sounds like you have had a lot of unnecessary work badly done. I would guess that they have messed up the steering geometry. The wheels don't point exactly straight ahead or sit upright normally, they tend to point inwards a bit to make the steering more stable. I would ask the garage for a copy of the wheel alignment results (which I expect they haven't done).
When I need wheel alignment setting I usually use garages that specialise in body repairs for insurance companies as they often have the best equipment and have technicians that know what they are doing. For me Gladwins Body Repair Centres | East Anglia's Leading Accident Repair Specialist | Car repairs Cambridgeshire | Car repairs norfolk | Commercial Vehicle Repairs Cambridgeshire | Commercial Vehicle Repairs Norfolk are my nearest, but it gives you an idea of what kind of garage you should go to

 

That's a terrible piece of work, and I'd be really concerned about the garage that carried that work out, as you said they managed to put 40 miles on it and didn't find a problem (Assuming mileage was after the work was carried out).

I'm going to guess it's not a chain/well known garage, just a backstreet that probably aren't very familiar with the GV and just did their best with it.

For comparison, I've just had a new steering rack put in mine (99,900 miles 2005 GV) (on extended warranty insurance I might add, otherwise I'd probably not have bothered) and whilst the steering is lighter and easier to handle it does none of those characteristics, steering is smooth to both extremes and won't jump at any slight bump, etc, so there is most definitely a problem there.

On the couple of other issues, flaky topcoat I'm not sure what you can do with that other than getting a professional light sanding then re-coat.

Electrical problems do crop up on these quite frequently, window goes up not down, is more unusual though as that's opposite to what normally happens (Either the safety cut-out malfunctions or the friction is too great for the old motor to handle and it can't wind it back up).
When you say it doesn't go down, if you 'help' it (use your hands with door open either side and slowly push down as you press the button) does it work? If so it might just be the motor failing. If nothing at all it may be the switch that's failed.

Good luck and please do post back with how you get on.

 

This is probably the carbon brushes in the motor sticking. Next time the window refuses to budge, try banging the centre of the door card with your fist while activating the window button. If the window moves then you need a new set of carbon brushes in the motor. It's not a difficult job, just very fiddly, and if you do it yourself it'll cost about a fiver for a pair of carbon brushes.

 

I have to thank everyone... I still stuck with the same garage(he just retired) and I still have the same car. I just cant give this car up. And the window still doesn't go down, we don't need fresh air anyway. trying to convince hubs to get a fiat 500. I know I can cram 4-5 of us in it plus keep my van.. thank you again.

 

Please note, unless there are notes to the contrary in the manual, front wheel drive cars usually have the wheels to toe OUT a little, and toe IN with back wheel drive.
Leedsman.