13
votes
Accepted
Power steering out after driving through deep puddle
My first thought is that the belt(s) that drive the accessories (alternator and power steering) slipped due to being wet. As for the check gauges light that came on later, I don't know. When it came ...
- 1,308
11
votes
Accepted
Genuine Honda power steering fluid...do I have to use this?
You do not need to use "Genuine Honda" power steering fluid. You do, however, need to use power steering fluid made for Hondas/Acuras. If you look at any manufacturer specific manual, you'll see they ...
- 153k
10
votes
Can i use ATF for power steering?
Yes, a lot of power steering pumps call for automatic transmission fluid (ATF) instead of traditional power steering fluid. The difference between the two fluids will vary between brands, but has to ...
- 6,037
9
votes
Accepted
After putting on new winter tires, my steering is weak/light
tl;dr: Winter tires are different and you are sensitive enough to tell.
It doesn't sound like you have a problem. It seems that you are detecting exactly what I detect when I put my winter tires on ...
- 24.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Drive by wire disables steering when car is off?
Drive by wire systems have no mechanical connection between the input decive (like a throttle/gas pedal) and the output device (like the engine). They use only electrical signals. To my knowledge ...
- 1,698
7
votes
Genuine Honda power steering fluid...do I have to use this?
Honda genuine power steering fluid is different than other available choices. The formula is proprietary and not published. It was developed in the early 1990's to solve a significant chatter symptom ...
- 11.6k
6
votes
Accepted
Citroen C4 Picasso - Whining noise when turning steering wheel
Based upon the information you've provided I can think of two things that may create the "medium frequency whirring" sound.
1. Low Power Steering Fluid
When your power steering fluid is low the ...
- 33k
6
votes
Accepted
serpentine belt or alternator or battery? car keeps dying?
Here is where I would start. First check the tension of the belt, just a quick push on the belt and you'll be able to tell, if its firm it's good, but if the belt has slack you'll need to tighten a ...
- 686
6
votes
Accepted
How would you stop if the ignition switch failed while driving?
The brakes should still work, but without power assist so they take more force. Same for steering. I would shift to N and then brake while heading to the shoulder. I had a K1500 Blazer of about this ...
- 148
5
votes
Accepted
Loosening stuck power steering hoses
My first thought is to use a good penetrating oil, Sea Breeze or my personal favorite PB Blaster. Wrap a small piece of rag around the fitting and soak it twice a day for 2-3 days. If it is still ...
- 19.9k
5
votes
Accepted
Steering Pump whining; no fluid loss
Reseal the pump inlet fitting. It lets air in here but will leak very little or no fluid out. It is a short plastic fitting with an o-ring seal on the pump end.
In the unlikely case that this does ...
- 11.6k
5
votes
Accepted
How is a power steering pump vacuum leak test performed?
I'm unsure if it would actually pinpoint a leaking fitting/seal.
Using a hand vacuum pump with a reservoir you fill the system and apply ~20inHg. Repeat until you stop seeing fluid entering the ...
- 10.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Changing fluids (power steering and rear differential): when and why
When buying a used car it's usually a good idea to change all fluids, just so you know exactly when they were changed, and can start your own fresh service history. This may be part of the reason why ...
- 6,037
5
votes
Power Steering Service
I don't know which specific fluid VW uses for power-steering, but many manufacturers use automatic transmission fluid, or something closely related to it.
Unlike the engine and transmission, the ...
- 12.2k
5
votes
Accepted
Can I turn the steering wheel in Honda Civic 2017 (No Honda Sending) by sending commands via CAN bus (OBD ii port)?
No not directly through the OBDII port. There is no way of sending steering activations through OBD even with dealer level diagnostic equipment. Imagine the safety implications if this was possible.
...
- 2,781
5
votes
Accepted
What is the metal brace on this rubber hose? How important is it?
I don't know exactly what it's for, but usually they'd put these in there for one of two reasons.
They need a hard place to mount the hose so what's holding on to it doesn't wear on it.
They are ...
- 153k
5
votes
Accepted
What's causing no power steering until 5-10 seconds after startup?
Replace the battery and those issues will stop.
Reason? The bad battery is so discharged after starting the engine the alternator takes a few seconds to bring the system voltage high enough for some ...
- 8,010
5
votes
Need help now with power steering
It depends on why the power steering "went out", but if there's something wrong with the pump or a leak caused the pump to run dry there is a possibility the pump could fail catastrophically and make ...
- 13.3k
4
votes
will running my 89 accord without power steering fluid burn out my pump?
Yes and quickly. Get the problem fixed or it is going to be real, real expensive to replace the pump and maybe the lines plus the power steering rack when the seals, etc. wear out due to lack of ...
- 131
4
votes
Bypass power steering pump?
The power steering hoses were never meant to loop in on themselves so you will most likely end up destroying them while making the switch over. Theoretically what you are asking is possible. That ...
- 16k
4
votes
Accepted
Are there any advantages to "manual" steering?
Feedback is the name of the game. I have been driving a car with manual steering for over a year now, and I can say that manual steering gives you much more feedback when compared to assisted steering....
- 8,956
4
votes
Steering tight and orange fluid on ground after failure to start
You need to identify the source of the leak
Clean everything in your driveway. Use Gunk, water soluble, or the like and get the Power Steering Fluid gone. Then:
Allow everything to dry out.
...
- 33k
4
votes
What can cause a steering wheel to end up misaligned, and how to investigate?
Your tracking needs adjusting. This requires some specialist tools but is quick and inexpensive to have carried out.
Tracking can be knocked out of alignment by hitting kerbs, pot holes or even ...
- 23.5k
4
votes
Accepted
What can cause a steering wheel to end up misaligned, and how to investigate?
I would have it aligned professionally, on a machine that addresses all four wheels and a particular value called the "thrust angle". This is not a DIY job. While there is an old phrase "Set the Toe ...
- 12.4k
4
votes
Is there a way to use a power steering hose assembly with wrong fittings?
You can absolutely use the part. You'll just need to get an adapter fitting which will work between the two. In the computer world we used to call it a "gender bender" ... a part which would take and ...
- 153k
4
votes
electric power steering: wheel centering significance?
It's not just cars with electric power steering but anything with a steering wheel position sensor. They should be re-calibrated so that "straight ahead" as reards the physical vehicle is also "...
- 23.5k
4
votes
How would you stop if the ignition switch failed while driving?
In nearly all situations, the way you stop if the ignition switch is the way you stop if the ignition switch is working: you stop pressing the gas, and hit the brakes. It's literally that easy.
...
- 323
4
votes
Hard to steer when really cold - ~20 to 30 degrees
Safe to drive, probably, but it might be hard on your new tires.
Seized tie rod may mean only that they were unable to adjust the position of the stop nut and/or outer tie rod end on the threaded ...
- 2,159
4
votes
Accepted
Power steering stiff after hybrid cold start at -20C
Sounds like nominal behavior of power steering fluid at -20c.
Unless there is no fluid involved with whatever that thing does to make the wheels turn, then it sounds like nominal behavior of an ...
- 474
4
votes
Accepted
Dodge ram steering hard to turn
Flush the existing fluid out by draining what you can get out and refilling with new, cycling from lock to lock then draining and filling again.
The joints may help in making it stiff, as well as the ...
- 34.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible