Guys my power steering has really been acting out lately and I'm trying to determine if It's something simple or if It's something severe.

Ever since I bought my car, the power steering pump has always made a whine/squeal whenever you turn it to full lock. But recently, It has been completely cutting out. I checked the belt, and it currently has the same amount of tension on it as the pump did when it worked fine. Personally I feel the belt could be just a little bit tighter, but this recent problem came out of nowhere and the belt has not lost any additional tension to cause the problem.

The issue here is that my power steering cuts out when trying to make a sharp turn or whenever trying to turn when the car is at a dead stop. When it first started doing this problem, it would emit a squealing noise from under the hood leading me to believe the belt was slipping. Now, even when it cuts out about 50% of the time it will squeal and the other 50 it won't. When the steering cuts out, sometimes you can man handle the wheel and with an extreme amount of force continue to turn the wheel, and sometimes you have to hit the brakes to avoid slamming into something.

Also something else I've noticed is that when it cuts out like this, usually backing off the wheel in the other direction slightly then resuming the turn will usually allow you to turn a little further before it cuts out again.

I haven't had my wheel at full lock for several weeks now, because I can't turn it that far! I checked the fluid and It's full. What is going on here!?

 

I think it may be time for a new pump.

 

if that belts been slipping for that long its gotta be glazed and over heated .definitely would try new belt first.other than leaks these systems are very reliable.

 

You know that whine you hear when you hold it on full lock? That's your pump screaming, "OWWWWWWWWWW, IT HURTS!!!!"

 

LOL! Yes I remember reading that holding the steering at full lock on any car for a prolonged amount of time will DRASTICALLY raise the fluid temperature and fry the pump. I never hold at full lock for more than a couple seconds at a time.

@ bcmag I couldn't agree more. Although at this point I am not ruling out the possibility of a bad pump, I am going to try replacing all the belts first and they are a tad dried. the two V-belts I just replaced two years ago too when I bought the car. One on the air pump is a POS duralast, although I'm neglecting that one since the AIR system is getting deleted.

 

If its been slipping a new belt would be a good idea. Also you checked to make sure its not low on fluid right?