Steering Suddenly Heavy

[Dm_26]

Can anyone help me please.

Was out in the car tonight and everything was fine, parked up at the shops, came back out and all of a sudden my steering was quite heavy. Not excessive, but still noticable.

I checked the tire pressures and the drivers side front tire had decreased 0.5psi (i only checked them at the w/e and topped them up) so i went to the garage and topped it back up to 29.5 psi (i believe this is the correct pressure for my car) but this made no difference.

I then checked my power steering fluid and it was acctually below minimum, so off i trundled to Halfrauds and for some (£6.50 for a litre, and everyone complains that petrols too dear? )
Topped it up and it made a slight difference but not alot.

I'm no thinking it could be something more serious as the roads here are absolutely terrible and i have hit quite a few deep potholes over the last couple of weeks or so.

Anyone know of a cure or anything i should check out?

Cheers guys

 

[Shorty_Irl]

Check your alternator belts for damage or wear if not already done so. Also check your power steering pump and reservoir for leaks. Possibility that the pump has failed.

 

[Dm_26]

Power Steering Reservoir is fine, no leaks. Will try and get it up on ramps tomorrow and have a poke about.

Thanks for the info

 

[Fletcher]

Sounds like your PAS steering broken.

 

[Dm_26]

Sounds like your PAS steering broken.

Could it be steering rods or anything?
And could the PAS break going over quite large potholes etc?
Theres one on the way to and from work, its impossible to miss and im on nearly full lock turning a corner at the same time, dont know if this could be a factor.

Cheers guys

 

[Fletcher]

Could it be steering rods or anything?
And could the PAS break going over quite large potholes etc?
Theres one on the way to and from work, its impossible to miss and im on nearly full lock turning a corner at the same time, dont know if this could be a factor.

Cheers guys

Hard to say mate, i'd take it to a garage and get it checked out asap.

 

[Dm_26]

Hard to say mate, i'd take it to a garage and get it checked out asap.

Il pop it on the ramps tomorrow, get the old Haynes out see whats up, failing that, garage it goes.

Renfrewshire Council will recieve the bill me thinks due to them have shitey roads with big b*****d potholes.

 

[Dm_26]

Just had a look at the car.

Reservoir is fine, pipes come out there and down to the power steering pump which seems to be fine, no noises, but where it connects to the aux belt there is an oiling substances that looks like its been spraying out for a while, but not a noticable spray but it has built up quite a bit. Can see a little red seal on the pump side which is a bit oily.

Think i have found the cause.

Is it possible to replace this seal or am i looking at a whole new pump?

 

[Tigger]

Mate did you ever get to the bootom of this? If so what was it?