The steering wheel is very hard to turn immediately after starting the van when the engine is cold. This only happens intermittently (maybe 1 out of 30 times) After a few seconds it becomes easy to turn, as if the power steering was off and it turned itself on. I checked the the power steering fluid and it is full.
It's a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan, with about 160,000 miles on it. Rack and power steering pump are original.
What could be causing this?
With power steering complaints such as yours where the symptom is intermittent the diagnosis is mostly guesswork in a setting such as this. You can do a few things to get to the source though.
A little about modern power steering Many vehicles have power steering assist controls such as a vehicle speed sensors and pressure switches/solenoids that stage the level of power assist based on speed and steering load. Typically you should have full assist at lower speeds fading into no assist at higher speeds, so at startup in your driveway full assist should be present on your vehicle.
Before working through guesses you should make as many observations as possible to pinpoint things such as leaks or failing components. Look for leaks and listen for odd noises related to turning the steering wheel back and forth.
Possibilities: This list of possibilities is not exhaustive and is simply drawn from my personal experience. Your mileage on its usefulness may vary. ;)
Fluid is low - upon startup a car with low fluid can/will develop surges due to air being sucked through the system. Check the fluid level at your power steering reservoir. Adjust the fluid level as necessary.
Fluid is contaminated - power steering fluid will contaminate over time and properly flushing the power steering system is a commonly neglected maintenance item. Depending on driving conditions and fluid quality the contamination can vary from soot developing in the system to goopy sludge caused by moisture. Use a turkey baster to draw out some of the fluid when it is cold and determine whether it is contaminated. The fluid should not be black/opaque. Check your owner's manual for the recommended power steering service interval and do this first if you are having a problem. If the fluid is contaminated then putting off the flush could lead to much more expensive repairs.
The filter is clogging up - this is usually a byproduct of condition #2 and typically the clogging filter is what gets a person to pursue fixing their car's problem. Some vehicles have an inline filter where on others there is a screen built into the reservoir that captures contaminants. Replacing or cleaning the reservoir should be part of a good power steering flush. If your reservoir is clogging then negative pressure on the system can cause wear problems on other components.
The power steering pump is leaking/failing - A failing power steering pump often is visibly leaking. Leaking pumps fail to operate properly due to air/contaminants entering through the bad seal or lack of sufficient operating pressure caused by fluid escaping the seal. (depending on which seal is leaking) Premature failure of a power steering pump can also be experienced when certain power steering fluid types begin to break down or abrasive contaminants are carried through the system. The failing pump is going to get your attention when it begins to buzz, rattle or whine.
The control body is failing - There is a controller consisting of orifices and valves that allows fluid to flow based on need and rack load. This control body has highly precise tolerances and will wear out or clog due to fluid contamination or fluid failure. This unit is typically part of the rack and pinion assembly. If you hear a whine or jitter coming from under the vehicle and in close proximity to where the steering yoke meets your power steering rack then this could be the problem.
Other unknowns - The problem could be none of the above. Kinked or collapsed hoses, electrical problems and even solid state device failure is not out of the question. Anomalies across designs exist and a specialist with your car maker might be the best place to find advice.
If there was a squeal when it came on, it could simply be that the belt is loose and/or wet. The belt ends up sliding around instead of spinning the pump. Ultimately it grabs (with a squeal) and gets the pump going. A contributing factor can be a failing pump that is much harder to turn. I'd check the belt tension and condition for sure. If possible, I'd also check to see if the force to turn the pump is within spec.
My wife's Jeep Cherokee has similar symptoms - oil level is fine, but occasionally the steering lost power assist right after one started the engine. Had a word with the local mechanic and he suggests that the most likely cause is a pump that's beginning to fail.
A cooling system leak, "fan blows leaking coolant on the p/s belt, belt slips, belt gets hot, dries up, belt grabs again, more coolant blows on the belt, and so on. Or just leaks or drips on to the belt or pulley".
early 2000s Chrysler mini vans had a problem after higher mileage of internal hose degredation where the power steering hose material would flake off and build up in the filter screen inside the pump reservoir clogging off fluid return to the pump,replacing the power steering reservoir (easiest)or removing the reservoir and back flushing debris out of the reservoir usually restores steering to normal.i have personally performed this repair hundreds of times and always fixed the condition.
It is normal, because the fluid is cold, when a mechanic is checking power steering level, it is important to spin the steering wheel 20-25 times from left lock to right lock to warm up the fluid. You're vehicles most likely have no problems. Try letting the vehicle warm up for 2 minutes or turn the steering wheel back and forth a few times before leaving.
2003 chevy express 3500 hard steering dealer changed pump no help it was & is the two U joints were froze in the steering column lubed them and now steers fine
