Why is the steering wheel not working?
2 Answers
Steering wheel not working is most likely due to a dead battery. Incorrect operation methods that drain the steering wheel power: After driving at night, the owner sometimes forgets to turn off the headlights and radio, then parks the vehicle in the garage or parking space. After the vehicle sits overnight, the battery is completely drained, making it impossible to start the car. For manual transmission vehicles, you can push-start the car by engaging the gear and having someone push it; after moving a certain distance, the vehicle might start. Some owners, for convenience, do not straighten the steering wheel when parking after work but instead turn it all the way to one side and leave it like that overnight. This can actually damage the vehicle, potentially causing leaks in the power steering pump's pipes on one side, and sometimes even leading to immediate pipe bursts. The pipes on that side will bear significant pressure, so avoid keeping the steering wheel turned all the way for more than 15 seconds. Reasons for sudden loss of steering wheel power: Engine damage.
Last week while driving, the steering wheel suddenly became extremely heavy, almost uncontrollable, which was quite a scare. 'No power steering' usually refers to the failure of the electric power assist system, possibly due to the car battery being too low to supply power to the assist system. Especially in winter, batteries are prone to aging and discharging, leading to loss of power assist. It could also be a blown fuse or issues with the sensors or motor in the steering system. I pulled over to check and found the battery terminals were loose. It's advisable to regularly check the battery condition before driving and avoid using high-power appliances like air conditioning and audio systems when parked to prevent similar situations. During routine maintenance, have the mechanic inspect the steering system wiring and fuse box to ensure everything is functioning properly.
