For inexperienced car owners, power steering is a relatively new element in the handling system of modern cars; therefore, it is very important to learn how to service power steering drive with care.
Though power steering is not mandatory for all automobiles, it has proven useful in various difficult driving situations.
Power steering allows drivers to perform smooth handling on rough terrains. Occasionally, the power steering system malfunctions, leading to continuous warning light flickering.
Inexperienced drivers may be confused by this issue without knowing how to turn error messages off for good.
Let’s find out how to service power steering now!
What Does It Mean When It Says Service Power Steering?
Whenever you notice the “service power steering” warning, it’s trying to inform you that there’s been a serious problem with the power steering. You need to take your car to the nearest auto shop for a thorough check immediately.
There are two types of power steering. In the past, hydraulic power steering systems simply consisted of a set of hydraulic pumps connected to the steering rack for better handling and navigation.
Car producers have worked on electric power steering, including sets of electric steering infrastructures with warning lights that can assist drivers in detecting problems.
Many car models have a power steering light on their dashboards. Depending on the state of the hydraulic fluids, the warning light can be red, yellow, and orange.
There are many reasons for flashing power steering lights, but it’s difficult to identify them without close inspection.
While driving, if the power steering warning light signal flashes repeatedly, it is important to find a safe place to stop and check for the fluid pressure.
If the power steering fluid has run out, refill and restart the engine. If this happens too often, you should go to the mechanic to identify and check the steering wheel fluid reservoir for any power steering fluid leak.
Occasionally, restarting the engine can reset the steering system.
However, you should not underestimate the issue, as flashing warning lights can disable the steering system, making it dangerous while driving on rough terrains.
What Causes Service Power Steering Light Flashing?
Contaminated Fluid
A power steering system consists of hydraulic pumps that put pressure on the steering wheel with dedicated fluid levels for pumping.
Contaminated fluids are imbued with dust, sand, and dirt, significantly affecting the pumping force. Therefore, they should be changed at the manufacturer’s recommended schedule.
When changing, avoid overfilling the power steering fluid at all cost.
Damaged Steering Pump
Over time, the power steering indicator becomes less effective in handling hard turns due to worn-out pumps.
They cannot apply the pressure on the steering wheels like they used to; therefore, finding a replacement for the strained pumps is recommended.
A durable set of pumps usually fall between $60 and $80, which is economical in the long run.
Broken Belts
The engine is connected to power steering pumps via belts made of metal and plastic.
The belts handle most of the pressure, so they will be vulnerable to stretching, wire corrosion, or breakage that will result in potential accidents. It is recommended to replace the belts if any sign of mentioned problems exists.
Extreme Pressure
Navigating on rough terrain too frequently can affect the power steering system’s expectancy.
Unless your vehicle is an overpowered off-road beast like a 4×4 or SUV, you should not push your steering pumps too hard. There is a limit for an average power steering system to handle.
Service Power Steering Problems And Solutions For Different Models
The key to service power steering drive with care is maintaining your vehicle regularly and cautious driving.
We have included some power steering service tips for specific types of automobiles. Check it out!
Service Power Steering Drive With Care Chevy Malibu 2015
For Chevy Malibu 2015, most drivers face problems with steering and braking in the rain.
Moreover, the power steering system occasionally makes rubbing noises during turning, which is a pet peeve for the drivers.
It is recommended to improve the handling stability by choosing tires with good traction strength under the rain.
That way, it can make up for its weak power under the rain. For the second issue, you can apply some cotton or tiny soft bags to suppress the noise from the system.
Power Steering Drive With Care Impala 2016
The most common issue for Impala 2016 power steering gear assembly is the stiffness within the hydraulic pumps, majorly caused by the lack of fluids within the pumps.
Leaks also frequently occur because of the high pressure, low fluid levels and soft hoses transporting the power steering fluids.
To deal with this issue, you should frequently replace fluids and check for leaks. Remember to extract all the leftover fluids from the pumps before adding new fluids.
After filling, start the engine and make some turns for about 20 minutes to ensure that the fluids are properly distributed.
2014 Silverado Service Power Steering
While performing at high speed, there is a chance that the powered steering wheel will be suddenly shut down.
In older models, turning failures may occur more often due to electronic problems. Outdated appliances and electric circuits are responsible for these problems.
To tackle this issue, carefully check your car’s circuit system within the dashboard and have technicians reprogram your dashboard.
Power driving tends to stop working while driving at full speed, so it’s best to avoid driving too fast, regardless of the weather.
2021 Chevy Trailblazer Service Power Steering
While performing at high speed, there is a chance that the powered steering wheel will be suddenly shut down.
In older models, turning failures may occur more often due to electronic problems. Outdated appliances and electric circuits are responsible for these problems.
To tackle this issue, carefully check your car’s circuit system within the dashboard and have technicians reprogram your dashboard.
Power driving tends to stop working while driving at full speed, so it’s best to avoid driving too fast, regardless of the weather.
Final Verdict
Power steering is an important technological invention to ensure safety for the driver.
Therefore, it is very crucial to know how to deal with the service power steering drive with care to improve the stability on the road, regardless of the weather and road conditions.
We hope this article has given you sufficient information about what to do when your power steering needs service.
Thank you for reading!