Unless to keep your automobile for a long time, your power steering pump may never go bad. This being said, the pump can go after about 10 years or 100,000 miles. Your hydraulic power steering system needs the pump to circulate the fluid so steering your automobile is a piece of cake. Let’s talk about the signs that the power steering pump is going bad below so you know what to look for in your automobile.
Groaning Noises
If you hear a groaning sound coming from your car when you turn the steering wheel, the steering pump is making this noise. This can be a sign that the steering fluid is low or that the steering pump is going bad. The pump may also moan or squeal if it needs to be replaced. It’s a good idea to have the pump checked at the first sound that you hear.
Stiff Steering Wheel
The reason why is that as the pump gets worse, it may become difficult to turn your steering wheel. This can be an indication that the pump is no longer circulating the power steering fluid. You will feel as if you have to use all of your muscles to turn your automobile. If you have ever driven a vehicle that is equipped with manual steering, you know what we are talking about.
Unresponsiveness
If you ignore the strange noises and a stiff steering wheel, your steering may become unresponsive eventually. This can create a huge problem because you will be unable to control your automobile. This opens you up to getting stranded inside of a vehicle you cannot turn or causing an automobile accident. Bring your vehicle to our shop at the first sign of steering problems.
Leaking Red Fluid
As the steering pump ages, it may start to leak. Consequently, you will see red fluid spots or puddles on your garage floor. To determine if the fluid is the power steering fluid, unscrew the cap to the power steering reservoir to see if the fluid level is low. If it is, we need to replace the steering pump to prevent the fluid from continuing to leak out of the system.
Silver in the Fluid
Finally, you may also see silver flakes in the steering fluid. We wish we could say that this is not a problem, but it is actually a severe one. The silver flakes are the metal from the power steering pump. That’s right! The pump is disintegrating.
We are here to help, so call us today if you are having problems with your vehicle’s steering.