What Causes a BMW Steering Wheel to Suddenly Become Hard to Turn?
2 Answers
BMW steering wheel suddenly becoming hard to turn may be due to high temperature in the power steering system or automatic steering wheel lock after engine shutdown. Here are the detailed explanations: 1. High temperature in the power steering system: The power steering system uses an electric power steering form. Repeatedly turning the steering wheel while stationary or at low speeds places an extremely high load on the power steering system, which can easily cause the steering gear to overheat and enter protection mode, resulting in heavy steering. It will return to normal after cooling down, so this is a normal phenomenon. 2. Automatic steering wheel lock after engine shutdown: Most vehicles automatically lock the steering wheel after the engine is shut off, which is a simple anti-theft feature. This situation doesn't occur every time when starting the vehicle. Generally, the steering wheel will naturally unlock after starting the vehicle with the key.
I've seen many cases of BMW steering wheels suddenly becoming unresponsive while repairing cars, with the main issues often lying in the electric power steering system. BMW commonly uses electronic power steering, which relies on the EPS module and sensors to function. When these components fail, such as sensor signal interruptions or module overheating, the steering becomes heavy. Software bugs can also trigger the system to automatically lock as a safety precaution. Sometimes, insufficient battery power can lead to a lack of electrical supply for the power assist. If you encounter this situation, slowly pull over to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights—do not force the car to move, as it can easily lead to loss of control. Check the dashboard warning lights and try a simple vehicle restart. Regular maintenance of the steering components and cleaning the connectors can help prevent such issues.
