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 ...
- 141k
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 ...
- 6,017
9
votes
Accepted
What are the advantages of electric and hydraulic power steering?
What's the difference between the two in terms of how they work?
In both cases, the power steering simply adds some force to the steering when it detects the driver is trying to turn the wheels. ...
- 1,282
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
8
votes
Accepted
what is exactly steering feedback?
tl;dr: Steering feedback means different things to different people. Ultimately, however, it's about using the steering wheel as both an input and an output device.
At a very high level, the concept ...
- 24.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Is it OK to not fix a power steering rack leak?
I would never ignore a worn tie rod; you could be driving down the road, hit a serious bump, and suddenly lose your ability to steer in a straight line, or worse. If you have the the tie rod replaced, ...
- 1,502
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 ...
- 1,668
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 ...
- 11.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Do power steering hoses just burst randomly or is it usually caused by installation error?
So, do power steering hoses just leak randomly like they are claiming? Or is there a reason to be suspicious?
I will bet the problem lies with the nylon seal which needs to be replaced with the pump (...
- 141k
6
votes
Accepted
Testing a used car: steering is not 100% light
You seem to be describing the weight of the steering, which varies from vehicle to vehicle.
It isn't something to be concerned about.
Many factors influence the lightness (or heaviness) of steering ...
- 39k
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 ...
- 32.8k
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
Is it bad to drive a vehicle if power steering is defunct?
Make sure the power steering pump has fluid in it. If it runs dry it can cause your pulley to seize and your belt to break.
- 61
5
votes
Is a power steering flush likely to be necessary at 60k miles?
Not knowing the exact state of the power steering fluid in the first place, I would be hard pressed to tell you it was a scam. I'm sure they performed the service for which you paid, so at least that ...
- 141k
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 ...
- 19.7k
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 ...
- 11.5k
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 ...
- 6,017
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 ...
- 12.1k
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.
...
- 2,742
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 ...
- 141k
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 ...
- 7,950
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 ...
- 13.2k
4
votes
I changed power steering fluid and it keeps making noise and is bubbles
One of the first things to consider is the aeration of fluid. A better way to 'bleed' the system is to fill the reservoir to its full mark, and allow the engine to idle. Top up the fluid as it drops ...
- 6,749
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
Can I break power steering by turning too far
This is called "cramping" the steering and it is bad for the pump and for the steering rack. What you are doing is forcing the system to try and push the steering components further than what they are ...
- 141k
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 ...
- 15.9k
4
votes
Accepted
Implications of a Leaking Power Steering Pump
If there is no fluid in the power steering rack then you can see the following symptoms.
Sound of metal on metal contact on turning.
Rough steering.
Heavy steering
Implications: There is no ...
- 8,926
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible