What are the causes of power steering failure?
2 Answers
Power steering failure can be caused by: 1. Activation of the car's anti-theft function, leading to the locking of the power steering system; 2. Inconsistent specifications or tire pressure between the two front wheels; 3. Unequal caster angle or camber angle of the two front wheels; 4. Inconsistent clearance of the front wheel hub bearings on both sides; 5. Unequal arch or elasticity of the leaf springs on both sides; 6. Excessive difference in wheelbase between the left and right sides; 7. Brake clearance too small or brake out-of-round, causing one brake to stick and drag; 8. Uneven vehicle loading; 9. Activation of the steering lock function while the car is turned off.
Last time I was driving, I suddenly encountered a situation where the steering wheel became very heavy. That day when making a turn, I felt like I needed both hands to forcefully turn the steering wheel. My first thought was that there was an issue with the power steering system. There could be quite a few possible reasons—for example, in a car with electric power steering, it might be a faulty torque sensor. My older car has hydraulic power steering, and after checking, I found out that the power steering fluid had completely leaked out. If you hear a buzzing sound when turning, it’s likely that the power steering pump belt is loose or there’s an issue with the motor. Another possibility is a malfunction in the control module, especially if the connectors get wet after washing the car, which can easily cause a short circuit. If you encounter this situation, make sure to pull over immediately—last time I stubbornly kept driving and almost hit a guardrail. I recommend first checking the power steering fuse in the fuse box. If it’s not blown, then you’ll need to go to a repair shop to read the fault codes with a diagnostic tool.
