Parts for your 2008 Toyota Ractis-Power steering pump

2008 Toyota Ractis power-steering pump: used or not?

Technical sources indicate the 2008 Toyota Ractis (chassis NCP100 2WD and NCP105 4WD) uses Electric Power Steering (EPS), column-assist type, so a hydraulic power-steering pump is not fitted or required. This is documented in Toyota’s Ractis Repair Manual for NCP100/105 (Steering – EPS, Column Assist Type), the Toyota New Car Features (NCF) guide for the Ractis model years covering 2005–2010, and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) which lists the EPS motor/ECU and column components but no hydraulic pump, hoses, or fluid reservoir for these variants.

Because the Ractis runs EPS, there’s no belt-driven pump, no power-steering fluid, and no hoses to leak. Steering assist is provided by an electric motor on the steering column that’s controlled by an ECU using inputs from a torque sensor, vehicle speed, and other signals. Toyota’s service training materials on column-assist EPS back this up, noting reduced parasitic load on the engine, better fuel economy, and fewer routine service items compared with hydraulic systems.

Why Toyota didn’t use a pump on the 2008 Ractis comes down to packaging, efficiency, and the vehicle’s light front-end load. EPS saves space under the bonnet, cuts fuel use, and simplifies servicing. It also allows variable assist at low speeds without dragging on the engine via a belt.

• There’s no power-steering fluid to check or replace on this model.
• Healthy 12V battery and charging system matter for steering feel, weak voltage can make the wheel feel heavy or trigger a steering warning light.
• Good practice during servicing: inspect the steering column U-joints, intermediate shaft for play, and rack boots, perform a wheel alignment after suspension work.
• If the EPS warning light appears, a scan with a Toyota-capable tool can read EPS DTCs and allow torque-sensor zero-point calibration where required.

A quick driveway check: lift the bonnet and look for a power-steering fluid reservoir—on a 2008 Ractis there isn’t one. Owners across Australia and New Zealand can expect the same EPS setup on Japanese-import Ractis models from this year, regardless of 1.3L or 1.5L engine and including 4WD NCP105.

Popular questions about 2008 Toyota Ractis power-steering pump

Does a 2008 Toyota Ractis have a power-steering pump?
No. It uses a column-assist Electric Power Steering system, so there’s no hydraulic pump, no belt, and no fluid reservoir. If you can’t find a power-steering fluid cap under the bonnet, that’s expected for this model year.

What steering maintenance applies if there’s no pump?
Focus on basics: keep the battery and alternator in good nick, check the column joints and rack boots, and get alignments after suspension or tyre work. If a steering warning light shows, have the EPS scanned for fault codes and perform torque-sensor calibration where needed.

Can a hydraulic pump be retrofitted to a Ractis?
Not realistically. Converting to hydraulic assist would require a different steering rack, lines, reservoir, pump brackets, and changes to engine drive belts, plus ECU integration. It’s far simpler and more reliable to diagnose and repair the existing EPS components.