Oxford Automotive advises that if your car does not turn when you turn the steering wheel, the power steering pump may be dead. This can also be a sign of another problem with the steering system. In this blog post, we are going to talk about the power steering pump. Generally, you can expect to get about 100,000 miles out of the factory pump. After this time, the pump tends to malfunction and, as a consequence, it makes it difficult for you to control your automobile. Aside from an unresponsiveness to the steering wheel, here are other signs that your automobile needs a new power steering pump.
Groaning Noises
The pump will start to groan and moan when you turn the steering wheel if it is going bad. The noises will get louder as you keep turning the wheel. Unfortunately, this is an indication that it’s time to replace the pump. You do not want to continue to drive your automobile with the faulty steering pump because, eventually, you will end up with the unresponsiveness discussed above.
Stiff Steering Wheel
Another thing that you are going to notice if you need a new steering pump is that your steering wheel will suddenly get very stiff when you try to turn it. This points to the steering pump having a problem circulating the power steering fluid. It is this fluid that helps you turn the wheel easily because it is a hydraulic fluid. Consequently, if your steering wheel is hard to turn, the pump is most likely unable to move the steering fluid through the system to make it easy to steer.
Leaking Red Fluid
Another thing that can happen to an old power steering pump is it can start to leak steering fluid all over the garage floor. The color of this fluid is red, so check the color of the puddle or spots on the garage floor. If it is red, unscrew the cap to the power steering fluid reservoir to see if the level is low. Only do this when your engine is cold. If the level is low, it’s a safe bet that the pump is leaking.
Silvery-Red Fluid
Finally, there is no doubt in the world that you need a new steering pump if there is silver in the red steering fluid. Simply put, this means that the steering pump is disintegrating.
Call Oxford Automotive in Oxford, PA, today if you are having problems steering your automobile.
