How to Maintain Power Steering

Power steering makes our lives a lot easier when we’re maneuvering our vehicles around tight corners and along busy roads. However, your power steering system can cause problems unless you maintain it properly. Here’s a rundown of the most important things you need to know about power steering and how to keep your system in top working order.

What Is Power Steering?

“Honda CR-V” used with permission via Flickr by denniselzinga

Power steering systems are designed to make it much easier for drivers to turn the wheels of their vehicle. The system typically consists of a pump, power steering fluid, and a rack and pinion system to turn the wheels.

The power steering pump is responsible for transmitting the fluid through the steering system, which causes the gear to move. The end result is that it’s much easier for you to turn right and left around curves and corners.

The exception to this is in vehicles with electric power steering. In these systems, the car’s computer is responsible for triggering an electric motor that powers the steering system. The motor is usually located at the bottom of the steering column. Because these electric systems don’t rely on hydraulic fluid to power them, they do not need their fluids flushed. However, they still require regular maintenance by a trained professional.

What Are Some Common Power Steering Problems?

Like all parts of your vehicle, the components in your power steering system will wear down over time. Additionally, power steering fluid can break down over the years, causing it to perform less effectively. While you may think you can carry on driving in spite of it getting harder to turn your steering wheel, the reality is that failing to take note of problems that can easily be repaired at little cost can lead to a much heftier bill further down the line. Moreover, reduced steering performance can put you and other motorists on the road at risk, which is why you need to take the warning signs seriously.

One of the most common power steering problems is caused by the contamination of the fluid by dirt and particles from other components that have worn down. When this happens, you’ll start to notice that it’s much harder to turn your vehicle’s steering wheel. This is because the contaminated fluid will not flow so well through your power steering system. If this problem is not tended to, it can place extra strain on the pump in your power steering, which may cause it to ultimately fail.

Other problems with your power steering can cause the steering wheel to feel loose when you turn it. However, this can also be an indication of a wheel alignment or tire alignment problem, which is why it’s a good idea to have a mechanic perform a thorough inspection of your when you notice your steering is looser than usual.

Another common issue is associated with fluid leakage. This can occur when the hoses in your power steering system develop holes, or if the couplings linking the hoses to your steering system start to loosen. The hoses also harden over time due to wear and tear and can develop cracks due to friction with other car components. You can identify this problem by looking for squeaking sounds or more resistance when you turn your steering wheel.

Leakages can also cause air to get into your power steering system, causing it to no longer be able to maintain the high pressure required for it to perform effectively. To combat this, you may need to have your hoses or couplings replaced to eliminate leakages.

A further issue is a worn out pump, which you can detect if you hear a squealing sound or have to use greater effort to change direction. A squealing sound that accompanies you turning the wheel can also indicate that your engine’s drive belt is about to give out. If you hear a grinding sound when you turn the wheel, this may be a sign that your pump is about to break down due either to a lack of fluid or another problem. This should act as a final warning sign to get your car to a local repair shop as soon as possible.

Checking Your Power Steering Fluid

One of the simplest ways to guard against the development of these problems is to regularly check your power steering fluid. To do this, follow the instructions in your owner’s manual to locate the power steering fluid reservoir in your vehicle. If the reservoir is transparent, you should be able to see a low fluid mark on the side of it. If your fluid is below that line, it’s time to get your power steering system checked out by an expert.

Some fluid reservoirs are not transparent. If yours isn’t, you’ll need to use a dipstick to measure the amount of fluid in the reservoir in order to determine whether you have a problem.

Preventative Maintenance

One of the most effective safeguards against power steering problems is to get your fluid changed regularly. Some vehicle manufacturers recommend having your fluid flushed and replaced every 30,000 miles, which is normally around every two to three years.

In this maintenance procedure, a trained auto technician will flush the old fluid out of your power steering system before replacing it with fresh fluid. This not only ensures that your fluid level stays topped up but also reduces the risk of contaminated fluid causing more damage to your power steering system.

Keeping a regular maintenance schedule also allows your mechanic to identify other power steering problems, like wear and tear on specific components, before they cause serious damage.

Now that you know a little more about how power steering systems work and the problems they can have, you can understand the importance of a regular maintenance regime to prevent them. Let our expert mechanics at Ike Honda take care of this for you. They can perform fluid changes, power steering inspections, and other routine maintenance tasks to a high standard so that you can get back on the road as quickly as possible. Contact us today to learn more, or schedule your next maintenance appointment with our professional auto technicians online.