When something feels wrong with your steering it will need to be diagnosed before any repairs can be done.
Listening to Your Symptoms
A specialist will start by asking for a description of any problems you’ve experienced with your vehicle. Is the steering heavy to turn, does it produce a whining noise when steered, is there evidence of fluid leaking from the steering system, or does the vehicle’s steering pull to one side? This will give us an idea of where the problem may lie and will aid our diagnostic process.
Checking the Fluid
Low power steering fluid is a common cause of problems with the steering. The fluid reservoir needs to be checked for low level, and the fluid inspected for signs of contamination or deterioration. If the fluid appears dark and smells of burned oil then it is likely that the power steering pump has overheated. If the fluid appears milky then it has been contaminated with water.
Pressure Testing the System For power steering specialists, visit https://westernpowersteering.co.uk/.
When a specialist tests the power steering system by attaching a pressure gauge to the power steering pump, it can give clues as to whether the pump itself is failing or if there is a fault with the rest of the hydraulic system. For example, if the pressure reading at the pump is within specification but the pressure then drops off at the rack, this would indicate a fault with the pipework to the rack or with the rack itself.
Inspecting Pipes, Hoses, and the Rack
Once the pressure results have been recorded the technician can then start to go through the physical components of the power steering system. The hoses are checked for any cracks or signs of wear to the joints. The steering rack is also inspected for any signs of leaks around the seals. Often a small leak can appear to be insignificant but in reality can cause a rapid loss of pressure when the steering is under load.
Scanning for Electronic Faults
The modern power steering system is a hydraulically assisted system, and many vehicles today use an electrically assisted system. A specialist uses a diagnostic scan tool to read any stored fault codes from the steering control module. These can be faults with the steering system such as faulty sensors, motor faults, etc. that would not be picked up in the other fluid and pressure tests.
