Steering getting really heavy, then better again??

[Struggler]

Really racking my brains over this,

my mrs was driving her car (civic 1.7 ctdi)
whilst some overly womanly parking, (lots of dry steering)
the steering got really heavy, asif the power steering had gone, maybe even worse,

after driving for abit, it seemed to get better, and by the time she got home it was fine, so i can see anything any different,

anyone got any idea as to what this could be??
cheers

 

[jonny_g]

my clio used to do this when the gf was using it to learn to drive doing 3point turn etc. was just the elec PAS cutting out due to overheating as a safety mechanism

 

[Jonff]

Air locks in the power steering pipes? Low power steering fluid? Just suggestions by the way.

 

[Moz168]

Hm weird, my mums car has done exactly the same tonight, except theres no power steering at all now. Someone said about the fan belt has gone maybe? Will be checking fluids and everything over in the morning, ill let you know what I find.

 

[Jonff]

If the fanbelt has snapped the engine will overheat very quickly, when that happened on an old Escort I use to have, I drove it home 15 miles and did the head gasket, also when the belt snapped it put a hole in my power steering reservoir.

 

[Munson]

Most modern cars don't have a fan belt, as the fan is electric. It may have an aux belt for AC/PAS, but being a Civic it's surely electric PAS anyway?

 

[markblack172]

try changing the fluid mate

 

[Moz168]

RAC came to check my mums car today and they said its the steering rack. All the fluid had gone and when he filled it up, it was going somewhere but couldnt see a leak :S

 

[Hutchie]

RAC came to check my mums car today and they said its the steering rack. All the fluid had gone and when he filled it up, it was going somewhere but couldnt see a leak :S

there is often a sensor in the pas pipe below the alternator, not connected to anything but its in the pipe for some reason. it corrodes and leaks, changed two lately

 

[123stevevw]

be prepared for a MASSIVE bill, the rack alone is approx £1000 iirc

 

[Hutchie]

be prepared for a MASSIVE bill, the rack alone is approx £1000 iirc

who would buy a new rack though :S

 

[Munson]

Why are people talking about fluid? If it's a Civic then surely it's all electric PAS?

 

[cobra248]

who would buy a new rack though :S

i did lol. the price was £525 for a new steerign rack fitted from renault, but that was for a 1.4 16v

 

[Struggler]

my clio used to do this when the gf was using it to learn to drive doing 3point turn etc. was just the elec PAS cutting out due to overheating as a safety mechanism

shes learning to drive too, and it was practicing manouvers,
so i think this is the first bet.

also, its a 53 civic, not sure what the power steering is, as ive been bad and not looked at it yet