What Causes the Steering Wheel Warning Light to Illuminate?
2 Answers
The steering wheel warning light may illuminate due to the following reasons: 1. Excessive air in the power steering system, causing abnormal vehicle steering; 2. Foreign objects in the steering hydraulic lines leading to jamming of the steering pump flow control valve. The steering wheel warning light on the car dashboard is essentially the power steering system fault indicator, and its illumination signifies a malfunction in the power steering system. Relevant information about the steering wheel includes: 1. Steering wheel faults may cause: heavy steering, steering noise, steering wheel vibration, and poor steering wheel return ability. 2. The function of the steering wheel is to convert the force applied by the driver on the steering wheel edge into torque and transmit it to the steering shaft. It mainly consists of a skeleton, foam, and mounting clips or screw holes corresponding to the driver's airbag (DAB).
When I see the steering wheel warning light come on, it's usually due to a weak battery or issues with the power steering system. For instance, last time when the light illuminated while driving, the steering suddenly became extremely stiff, making turns very difficult. After inspection, it turned out to be a hydraulic power steering pump oil leak. If you're driving an electric power steering vehicle, it might also be caused by a faulty sensor or ECU error. An aging battery can lead to low voltage, triggering system faults. In such cases, you should pull over safely, avoid forcing the vehicle to move, and call a tow truck to take it to a repair shop for inspection. Nowadays, I regularly check the hydraulic fluid level or battery voltage to prevent any issues that could harm myself or others.
