On 2 different occasions, I have had the power steering quit.
It felt to me like an out of fluid or missing belt situation.
Car was running fine, but steering was completely out.
I parked, shut off, looked under hood, checked fluid. All fine.
Got back in and started it and it worked fine.


It's got me baffled, cause I can't make it do the same thing.


Steering rack was replaced 18 months ago. Belt was replaced 6 months ago.


If it helps, both time were after a long run, then parked, and re-started a few minutes later. So, could heat be the issue?
232k km's.


Any ideas?

 

Yes it could thin out the fluid.

 

I found several other people with this same issue.

 

Thank you Mel, was there a solution to any of it?
Would a fluid change help?
I've heard of using brake fluid rather than power steering fluid?

 

Some say pump or rack. They had a lot of TSB on the popping for the CVs.

 

Tom:

I'd definitely say..
Its a bad pump...

The mrs 2003 GMC steering would lock up... same scenario though...cold it was fine after warm up it would start locking up... even after just 39,000 miles.. We replaced it..and its a non issue now.

 

Thank you. I'm going to look for a new pump.


I haven't looked yet to see how hard it would be to replace.
But I hope I can do it myself.


P.S. When I had the steering rack done, I asked if we should do pump at the same time, and said naw, wait till it needs it....

 

same part, including core, shipping, tax, exchange


$137.64 in Canada


$91.29 from RockAuto