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 ...
Mobius's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
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 ...
MooseLucifer's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Bob Cross's user avatar
  • 24.3k
7 votes
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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 ...
Sam's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Fred Wilson's user avatar
  • 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 ...
DucatiKiller's user avatar
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 ...
Iqbal Khan's user avatar
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 ...
jxh's user avatar
  • 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 ...
mikes's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Fred Wilson's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Ben's user avatar
  • 10.7k
5 votes
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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 ...
MooseLucifer's user avatar
  • 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 ...
tlhIngan's user avatar
  • 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. ...
Newbie Noob's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
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 ...
Moab's user avatar
  • 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 ...
JPhi1618's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Elwood Jones's user avatar
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 ...
vini_i's user avatar
  • 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....
Shobin P's user avatar
  • 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. ...
DucatiKiller's user avatar
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 ...
Steve Matthews's user avatar
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 ...
SteveRacer's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
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 "...
Steve Matthews's user avatar
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. ...
Cort Ammon's user avatar
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 ...
kmarsh's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Sam Basso's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Solar Mike's user avatar
  • 34.7k

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