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Clogged power steering lines can cause a number of different symptoms - some more noticeable than others. Causes of clogged power steering lines can be several things. Most of the time it is due to internal failure of a hose, power steering pump or rack and pinon/steering gear. Frequentlywhen one of those components fail, metal shavings or rubber bits will circulate through the system.
There are a number of different signs that your power steering system is developing issues. Most people have heard a key sound that becomes present when your power steering system has developed an issue, and that is a moaning sound under coming from under the hood when the steering wheel is turned side to side. That noise is the most telling sign of a power steering system that is failing. The reason for the noise is normally due to air being in the system and the hydraulic power steering pump cavitating, causing a mixture of both air and fluid to be pushed through the power steering system.
There are certainly some symptoms of a bad power steering system. Let’s discuss some signs that something in your power steering system is bad or that your system has developed a problem. Issues within the power steering system can at times be very obvious and at other times be very subtle. The power steering system is critical to the safety and drivability of the vehicle and should be inspected at regular maintenance intervals. In order to verify proper function of the power steering system, follow a couple of guidelines.
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1. A noisy power steering pump. The pump will start to whine, specifically while turning. This is an indication that the pump is struggling to move the fluid, either due to air being in the system or internal failure of the part.
2. Stiff power steering. This can be an indication that the internals of the power steering pump have failed and is no longer moving power steering fluid.
3. Intermittently stiff steering. This type of issue can be caused by a number of bad parts, but is also a sign of a failing power steering pump. If you are experiencing this specific symptom, it is in your best interest to have your vehicle inspected thoroughly by a professional.
4. Leaking power steering fluid. If the power steering pump has developed a leak, it needs to be replaced. The leak will only get worse with time, and the potential for total loss of power steering is high.
5. An empty power steering fluid reservoir with no signs of a leak while the vehicle is off. Sometimes a pump will develop a small leak that will only actually leak fluid while the vehicle is on. This is due to the pump pressurizing the system while the engine is running and not having any pressure while it’s off. If you notice an empty power steering fluid reservoir, but no visible leaks, it is best to have your vehicle inspected by a professional for the cause.
It’s important to know how to tell if your power steering is bad. We encourage you to take note of these five warning signs early on so that you don’t end up with total power steering failure. We pride
ourselves on being power steering experts. If you need more information, you can post a question in our Ask the Experts section. We’d love to help.
Power Steering Q & A > How To? > How to Tell If a Power Steering Pump Is Bad
How to Tell If a Power Steering Pump Is Bad: 5 Warning Signs You Need to Know About
Typically, when a power steering pump starts to go bad, you will have some early signs that you can catch prior to complete failure of the pump. If you pay attention to these five symptoms, you should be able to avoid a total loss of power steering assist. But, if you ignore the warning signs, you may end up with no power steering, which will make controlling the vehicle difficult, especially at lower speeds. These are the top five symptoms of a failing power steering pump.
