Why does the steering wheel suddenly become hard to turn?
1 Answers
This situation occurs because air has not been completely expelled from the steering system after fluid leakage. If the steering pump operates for a long time in a state of oil shortage, it can lead to severe wear and reduced performance of the steering system. Repairing oil leaks in the steering pump can be resolved by replacing the sealing rings and oil seals, and if necessary, replacing the entire assembly. Cars equipped with vacuum-assisted steering will not experience the phenomenon of being unable to turn after the engine starts, unless the power steering pump is damaged. More detailed explanations are as follows: 1. The phenomenon of the steering wheel suddenly becoming tight and hard to turn is more common in vehicles equipped with electronic steering systems. The power assist system uses an electronic power assist form. When repeatedly turning the steering wheel while stationary or at low speeds, it places an extremely high load on the power assist system, which can easily cause the steering gear to overheat and enter a protective mode, resulting in heavy steering. It can recover after cooling down, which is a normal phenomenon. 2. After the vehicle is turned off, if the steering wheel is parked at a certain angle, and this angle happens to allow only the key to be twisted to ignite but not to unlock, the steering wheel may become hard to turn. The steering wheel will automatically lock, which is a simple anti-theft feature. In this case, gently twist the key with your right hand while lightly turning the steering wheel with your left hand, and the steering wheel will naturally unlock.
