If your vehicle is equipped with hydraulic power steering, you have a power steering pump. You also have power steering fluid. The pump is what pushes the fluid through to the power steering system. If your power steering pump has gone out, it will feel as if you’re power steering has gone out. Del Hatt Automotive can help. We can inspect the power steering pump and replace it if it has died. Here are signs that your power steering pump is experiencing problems and needs to be serviced or replaced.
Slow Steering Response
One of the first things you may notice is that your steering will suddenly become slow to respond. You will feel as if you are steering a car in an amusement park ride on a track. You will turn the wheel, but your vehicle will do something different. This not only makes driving dangerous, but it also indicates that your power steering pump is experiencing problems.
Squealing Noises at Start-Up
Another sign that your power steering pump is going bad is if your vehicle makes squealing sounds when you first started. This is an indication that there is a problem with the accessory belt to which the power steering pump is attached. The squealing will stop after it initially sounds, but you may also hear squealing if you turn your steering wheel all the way to make a tight turn.
Stiffness in the Steering Wheel
Many people complain that their power steering feels like manual steering when the power steering pump goes out. This makes sense because the power steering system isn’t getting the hydraulic power steering fluid it needs to make steering your automobile much easier. You may notice that your steering wheel gets stiff and loosens up, as well. This suggests that the pump is getting fluid into the system some of the time but not all of the time.
Strange Noises While Turning
Finally, if you hear strange noises when you turn your steering wheel, this can be an indication that you have low power steering fluid or your power steering pump is going out. The most common sounds are whining sounds and groaning noises. These sounds indicate that there is a problem in your power steering system that should not be ignored. In fact, the more you drive your automobile with a failing power steering pump the louder the sound will become.
Del Hatt Automotive in Poughkeepsie, NY, would be happy to inspect your power steering pump and the rest of the system if you are experiencing any of the problems listed above. Call us today to schedule a service appointment.
