Symptoms of a bad power steering pump
The power steering pump is one of the components of hydraulic power steering. This power steering system utilizes hydraulic oil pressure to lighten the driver's steering wheel.
This power steering pump works utilizes engine rotation. It uses the power steering pump pulley connected to the engine crankshaft pulley using the power steering belt. The power steering pump belt will turn when the engine rotates, making the power steering pump pulley rotates.
This hydraulic power steering requires routine maintenance, such as changing the power steering oil every 25000 miles. If the oil changing exceeds this distance, it can generally cause power steering problems, such as a bad power steering pump.
Yes, there are so many power steering problems that causes by a bad power steering pump. So what are the symptoms of a bad power steering pump that we can know? In the following article, we will inform you what the symptoms of a bad power steering pump are. See the bad power stering pump symptoms below.
1. Stiff steering wheel
A common sign of a bad power steering pump is that the steering wheel becomes heavy when turned to the right or the left. Sometimes, the steering wheel goes stiff. Yes, the power steering pump can provide fluid pressure to the steering rack shaft when the steering wheel is turned.
The steering rack's fluid pressure will help the driver so that the steering wheel can rotate more lightly. When the power steering pump is damaged, the pump cannot flow pressurized oil into the steering rack. As a result, the steering wheel will stiff and feel heavy when rotating to the right or left.
2. A Groaning noise coming from the power steering pump.
The next symptom of a bad power steering pump is groaning noises from the power steering pump. It often appears when the steering wheel starts turning right or left.
In some conditions, the noise that arises from the power steering pump is often followed by strong vibrations that we can feel up to the steering wheel and the driver's hands. This condition makes driving uncomfortable.
Below are the causes that can make this power steering pump noise in between:
- The power steering oil is foamy and insufficient due to air leaks in the power steering system.
- The power steering oil is dirty and muddy.
- Damage to components in the form of fin blades that rub against the pump wall.
- The valve regulator is clogged or broken, causing the steering oil not to flow when it pumps.
3. Oil leak in the power steering pump
The next symptoms of bad power steering pump is the appearance of power steering oil seepage in all parts of the power steering pump body. Seepage of power steering oil that appears in the power steering pump body often occurs because the power steering pump seals have hardened. The seals cannot prevent the power steering oil from leaking.
Generally, damage to the power steering pump seal is caused more due to the age of use. At least it can be more than five years of use, then the rubber seal in the power steering pump has started to harden, causing oil seepage in the power steering pump body.
If this seepage did not service immediately, it would accelerate the power steering pump's damage. The power steering oil decreases, frothing until dirt enters.
Also read:4. The power steering pump pulley looks shaky when it rotates.
The last symptom of a bad power steering pump is the power steering pump pulley that looks shaky as it rotates. Additionally, when the pulley's shaking, humming and rumbling noises from the power steering pump also accompany it.
The power steering pump pulley's shaking condition is caused by the wear and tear of the pulley shaft bushing on the power steering pump. It makes the pump pulley shaft no longer rotate straight and perfectly.
Damage to the pump shaft bushing can occur due to an error in adjusting the power steering belt, which adjusts too tight. This adjustment error may have persisted for a long time and repeatedly, even after the next power steering belt replacement.
These are the symptoms that appear when there are power steering problems, especially in the power steering pump component.