My check gages light came on, (it was not on long)but i did not have time to stop for gas, (LUNCH BREAK) and then it got really hard to steer, i made it into the parking lot and barely parked. The check engine light cam on and the battery light, but the radio was still on.
2006-08-01 04:47:45 · 15 answers · asked by ladyjno7 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If your car dies from lack of gas, so does the power steering.
2006-08-01 04:52:22 · answer #1 · answered by jeepster420 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sounds like you broke a belt. That's why the lights came on. The check engine light does not come on if you are out of gas. However if you break a belt the light comes on because the battery is no longer charging, the battery still holds some power, enough for the radio, for a while. Do not drive the car have a tow truck take it to a shop. If it is a belt you could over heat it and cause further damage.
2006-08-01 11:57:43 · answer #2 · answered by uthockey32 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did the fuel tank light turn on? It is probably that you are low on steering fluid not low on gas. There is a separate light for the fuel gauge. Does your tank read E for empty?
Sounds more like your steering fluid. IF you ran out of gas the engine would have stopped. Then the power steering would have been lost. It would be difficult but not impossible to turn without it. However, if the engine stopped you would not be going far. Did the brakes also become sluggish? That would happen as well when the engine stops.
2006-08-01 11:56:16 · answer #3 · answered by Taztug 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it will get hard to steer if the car is not running. Lights and radio are drawn off the battery so the engine does not need to be running for those to be on.
2006-08-01 11:54:07 · answer #4 · answered by Jake S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your car ran out of gas and died when you turned end. Try turning your steering wheel when the cars not running and key is in the on position. can you do it? Keep gas in your car. The motor has to run in order to make the steering easy to turn, it's called power assist
2006-08-01 11:57:04 · answer #5 · answered by link 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most vehicles have power steering with a lubricant stored in a fixed container under your hood, keeping it working. But if your engine stalls for any reason, your power steering goes too.
If you ran out of the power steering lubricating fluid I suggest you have a qualified repairman take a look for any suspected damage and then replenish the fluid.
2006-08-01 11:55:55 · answer #6 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The engine runs the power steering so if you ran out of petrol then yes the power steering won't work, it will give youre biceps a good workout though.
2006-08-01 11:51:49 · answer #7 · answered by THE OFFENDER 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you have lost is the power steering. When the car isn't running the hydraulic systems don't work. You can still steer it, but you're now doing it manually, which is a lot more work.
Thank God for power steering, huh?
2006-08-01 11:53:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Almost all late model cars have power steering, so when your engine is not running it is very difficult to steer the car.
2006-08-01 11:56:06 · answer #9 · answered by Solo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES, the engine drives the power unit for the power steering. It is belt driven, so if your engine stopped turning, so would your power steering.
2006-08-01 12:03:18 · answer #10 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your car stopped running then the power steering will shut off.
2006-08-01 11:57:51 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋