power steering shuts off

[DROOPY209]

at idle, if i turn my steering wheel to the left or right, the coolant light, brake light and battery light all turn on together and the steering wheel gets very hard to turn like I dont have any power steering.


while driving and making a right or left turn, same thing happens.

once i finish the turn and start going straight again, the lights shut off and everything is normal until i make another turn.

i tightened the ps belt and its still the same.
the power steering belt was squealing for a while last night.

 

[blackGSX2g]

All of those lights you mention indicate alternator malfunction.

Try tightening your alternator belt. If thats tight and looks good, check out the condition of your crank pulley (harmonic dampener). Often the rubber on the inside will get old and crack, causing a failure.

If the crank pully looks ok, take off all the belts and make sure all of your pulleys spin freely.

 

[Spyderman7]

Check the alternator belt.It makes your water pump pulley turn which makes your power steering belt turn.

 

[DROOPY209]

can the power steering pump itself go out?

I've never really heard or read of anyones power steering pump go out on them.

yes, those 3 lights i mentioned are alternator related, thats why Im so confused.

My lights don't dim, my car doesnt stall out, my soundsystem is loud and clean.

Just when I go to make a left turn either stopped in my driveway or driving at 15 miles per hour, the steering gets very hard, I need 2 hands to make a turn and those 3 light come on as soon as I start the turn and go away once I finish the turn.

how do I check the harmonic dampner?
do I start the engine and get under there with a flashlight and make sure it doesn't wiggle?


you know what, now that I think of it, my windows roll up and down kinda slow too....

 

[Defiant]

yes, those 3 lights i mentioned are alternator related, thats why Im so confused.

My lights don't dim, my car doesnt stall out, my soundsystem is loud and clean.

Because the battery is taking up the slack during those short periods that the alternator is falling behind.

Just when I go to make a left turn either stopped in my driveway or driving at 15 miles per hour, the steering gets very hard, I need 2 hands to make a turn and those 3 light come on as soon as I start the turn and go away once I finish the turn.

You're losing power assist while you have the steering fully-loaded.

how do I check the harmonic dampner?
do I start the engine and get under there with a flashlight and make sure it doesn't wiggle?

Put a white-out mark across from the hub onto the rim. Run the car, do your steering abuse, and see if it's moved out of index.

 

[DROOPY209]

Because the battery is taking up the slack during those short periods that the alternator is falling behind.
You're losing power assist while you have the steering fully-loaded.
Put a white-out mark across from the hub onto the rim. Run the car, do your steering abuse, and see if it's moved out of index.

Sorry neighbor, but you were wrong big time.....turns out my battery was dead. I went over to Auto Zone on Cst and it checked out dead, way dead. I had been driving my car to Sacramento and back for 4 days straight with a dead battery. Even after it checked out dead at Auto Zone, it still started my car, with some hesitation. I got home and took it off and went back.

Good thing my Optima Red Top 34/78 series has a great reserve capacity. The battery was dead but it still started and took me 75 miles round trip for 4 days great. I ended up getting another one for free as I have the warrantee. Car runs great now.

Good try though Defiant. I appreciate the attempt.

 

[snyper1982]

Did you get your alternator checked as well? The reason your battery died could be due to a faulty alternator. If the alt has a bad diode, it will drain your battery while the car is off. Just a heads up.

 

[DROOPY209]

alternator checked up good. It was charging the battery, the battery wasnt holding a charge whatsoever.

thanx though.

 

[FireyIce01]

alternator checked up good. It was charging the battery, the battery wasnt holding a charge whatsoever.

thanx though.

That happens sometimes... I'd keep an eye on it though, because sometimes an overworked alternator will go out because of the battery being shot. Not always, but doesn't hurt to watch.

So with the battery being replaced, the steering problem has been solved? That's sorta odd.

 

[DROOPY209]

That happens sometimes... I'd keep an eye on it though, because sometimes an overworked alternator will go out because of the battery being shot. Not always, but doesn't hurt to watch.

So with the battery being replaced, the steering problem has been solved? That's sorta odd.

yup a new battery fixed the problem. Before that I took off the belt for the power steering to isolate the problem, but then I had no power steering whatsoever.

My windows were rolling up kinda slow so I went over to autozone and they checked out my charging system with their machine and the battery was bad.

 

[Defiant]

Sorry neighbor, but you were wrong big time.....turns out my battery was dead.

And that was affecting yor power steering? WTF

 

[calcifer]

I don't think that's going to be the answer to your problem, your old battery had probably been drained to much from this. My harmonic balancer pulley actually broke off, and I lost power steering, started to overheat, and whatnot. You should really check to make sure its ok.