Under what circumstances will the power steering pump fail?
3 Answers
There are several reasons for the failure of a power steering pump: Aging oil seals: Aging oil seals, loose oil pipes, or screws can cause the power steering pump to fail. Simply replace the damaged components accordingly. Oil leakage: If there is oil leakage from the engine block, oil tank, transmission oil tank, or cooling oil pipes, it is necessary to seek professional inspection and repair at a 4S shop or repair shop. Classification: Power steering systems can generally be divided into three categories: mechanical hydraulic power steering systems, electro-hydraulic power steering systems, and electric power steering systems. A mechanical hydraulic power steering system typically consists of components such as a hydraulic pump, oil pipes, pressure and flow control valve body, V-type drive belt, and oil reservoir.
My old car was scrapped precisely because the power steering pump failed. After ten years of driving without ever maintaining the power steering fluid, the oil was as black as soy sauce, and the oil passages were completely clogged with sludge. When the mechanic opened it up, the vanes were completely worn down. Another time, my wife scraped the curb while driving, cracking a small hole in the oil line, which went unnoticed. After driving for two weeks, all the power steering fluid leaked out, and the pump burned out from dry friction. The most frustrating part was last year when I tried to save money by getting an oil change at a roadside stall, only to end up with fake oil mixed into the power steering fluid, which corroded all the seals within six months. Normally, if you hold the steering wheel at full lock for more than five seconds, the pump will whine—that’s a high-pressure warning. Remember: when the steering wheel feels heavier, it’s a warning sign.
Last week, I spent 800 bucks on repairing the power steering pump—a painful lesson! Mainly fell into three traps: First, after modifying the wheels, steering became heavier, and I kept forcing the wheel, overloading the pump long-term. Second, during car washing, the high-pressure water jet directly hit the engine bay, mixing moisture into the power steering fluid and causing bubbles—the pump made a clattering noise for a week before dying. Third, winter road salt corroded the metal pump housing. A colleague had it worse—his used car’s pump was already wrecked by the previous owner, who had a habit of yanking the wheel one-handed, causing metal fatigue that shattered the vanes. Now I’ve learned: when maneuvering in place, I ease off slightly after turning the wheel to full lock.
