Power Steering Failure?

mafmouf on 27/03/2014 - 15:22

Hi all,

Was driving home yesterday in Sydney in the nice rainy weather. Upon entering a roundabout just before my street, all of a sudden my car seemed to completely freeze up. The steering wheel became unbelievably rigid and many lights on my dash came up. I put on the hazard lights and stopped the car.

A couple of the lights on included "PS" (I am guessing power steering) and something that looks like a car sliding (ABS maybe?). This has never happened before and I am glad I wasn't on a highway when it happened.

Has anyone got any ideas on this one? I suspect I turned into the roundabout a little too hard for the conditions and that's how the car reacted. I must admit, I wish I had one of these.

Automotive

Comments

  • ESEMCE on 27/03/2014 - 15:30
    +2

    If the Power Steering fails the car should still be steerable, just heavier.

  • MustResistPurchase on 27/03/2014 - 15:46

    Have you driven it since? What model car is it? If it feels heavy, it would most likely be that the power steering has failed.

  • derweep on 27/03/2014 - 15:52
    +2

    Open up the hood and check the power steering fluid container (reservoir) to see if it's leaking or leak completely out. The container usually is on the side, label and the PS fluid is reddish in colour. It's quite big so you can't miss it. Else other thing might be your accessories belt that drive the PS might have slipped off or snap. Open up and check to see what's not right.

    • subywagon on 27/03/2014 - 17:48
      +1

      ^ What he said. You can should still be able to drive it (home at least), but it will feel really heavy… probably can't steer if you are fairly weak though I guess.

  • mafmouf on 27/03/2014 - 19:04

    Thank you so far for the replies. I did make it home alright yesterday and drove it to and from work without issues. It's a new Pulsar btw.

    It did feel very heavy by comparison (I'd have thought rigid was suitable to use too) but I was also interested in OzBargainer's theories as to why it happened.

    • ESEMCE on 27/03/2014 - 21:56

      Rigid sounds like you couldn't steer at all!

    • Cheeper on 28/03/2014 - 00:49

      It's a new Pulsar btw.

      You have warranty… I'd get it in there asap… that is a bit dangerous..

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