When I make a right or left turn my steering wheel isn't turning like it should. It locks up half way and I have to use a little force to make a turn. My right turns are wide like a 18 wheeler making a right turn. My left turns are the same way but I have a bit more control when turning. This started happening off and on a couple weeks back but has gotten worse with the colder weather.. I had it checked out at the nearest auto center when it first happen and they found nothing wrong with the power steering fluid and pump. They didn't take the steering wheel off to see if something could be wrong in that area. And when they test drove it the steering wheel didn't even lock up. I had it check someplace else and the same thing-they test drove it and the wheel didn't act up. Could a problerm with the rack and pinion be causing the steering wheel to lock up? The front end doesn't need an alignment, but I had the back end done 2 weeks ago.
97 Plymouth Breeze
2.0 Engine
2006-11-21 14:14:52 · 8 answers · asked by too_shy_4_ya_1009 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I am not familiar with your car, but the symptoms sound to me exactly like the seals are deteriorated in your rack. Varying degrees of stiffness turning in one direction and not the other is one of the signs. More on this later.
Here are a couple of more:
When turning, the wheel seems to turn hard, but then, without warning, it just comes loose again.
A significant change of steering feel as the weather changes.
Dark steering fluid; it usually is a red color, but if it looks GRAY or black, then there is a problem.
GMs used to have this problem when I was a mechanic. The rack assembly has a series of internal rubber seals that are in contact with the steering shaft to lubricate it, and to maintain the oil pressure. These seals can be prematurely worn (for reasons I will not speculate to save time). When they wear they basically turn into a gritty substance that infects the fluid. The fluid becomes course, like emery or sandpaper, but too fine to actually see by any method other than noting the darkness of it. As this fluid courses through the system it acts as a corrosive, further eating away at the inside of the pump and the rack and pinion assembly. The innards become distorted by the wear and function erratically. The ultimate result is loss of power assist, but only after months of being jerked around. This can be dangerous. I have test driven such cars before repairing them and the variation in power assist can literally throw you off the road, or into anothet car (or pedestrian) with out warning.
If my diagnosis is correct then the only fix is to change the rack and thouroughly flush the pump and lines. Some would have you change the pump too but of the dozens that I have dealt with, no pumps were changed all customers were satisfied.
Good Luck. K.
2006-11-21 17:58:57 · answer #1 · answered by kfhaggerty 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you are having p/s problems. I wish I knew more to fully answer your question. Like does the power steering lock up as the car warms up, or does it happen immediately at start up? If it happens at start up, try having the p/s pump looked at again, and also take a look at the condition of the p/s fluid. One way to know if your P/S pump is bad is by turning your wheels left and right for five minutes, then touch the hydraulic lines from the p/s reservoir to the pump. If the line gets real hot, your pump is burned out.
2006-11-21 16:44:49 · answer #2 · answered by Al B. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it could be your rack and pinion it could also be your steering pump which makes the steering wheel hard to turn. Need to check your power steering fluid to see if it is low or dirty. You need to take it to a good certified mechanic that can find and fix your problem. If you need a good mechanic i know of one. We can find just about anything and fix it to. There is hardly a problem we can't handle.
2006-11-21 14:37:13 · answer #3 · answered by Andie F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you'll locate the belt that runs your ability steerage also runs your alternator and it really is slipping and desires adjusting or replacing. the wheel stiffens because the belt isn't perfect doing away with the attempt to reveal the wheels because it isn't activating the flexibility steerage pump the battery lights come on on the sprint because the alternator isn't turning both and it isn't charging up the battery. examine the belt, if it has bits lacking or seems damaged substitute it.. no matter if it really is free get it adjusted yet its perfect to bypass for a sparkling belt
2016-11-29 08:49:09 · answer #4 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
steering wheel hard turn and fluid leaking under car on left side
2016-07-08 11:33:57 · answer #5 · answered by connie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it's the nut behind the steering wheel.
2006-11-21 22:57:44 · answer #6 · answered by waltzsingmatilda2 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like your power steering is going out
2006-11-21 14:19:41 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The belt could be slipping when under load,
2006-11-21 14:33:04 · answer #8 · answered by tarynthegreat 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋