Since power steering systems became mainstream in the 1960s, we have relied on being able to turn their steering wheel without much thought.
So much so, that most people have never driven a vehicle without power steering, which makes it all the more alarming when a power steering system stops working and you find it hard to turn the steering wheel again.
So if the steering wheel in your vehicle isn’t turning very easily, don’t get too alarmed! There are a few quick repairs you can do to get you back on the road! We’ll begin with the most common issues:
Why Is My Steering Wheel Hard to Turn?
A steering wheel is hard to turn primarily because of a bad power steering pump or a bad serpentine belt.
Low power steering fluid is another common option and is good to check your level. Low tire pressure can lead to hard steering, as well.
There are few things more concerning than not being able to turn your steering wheel. So if you are, you want to fix it ASAP.
Below I’m going to briefly outline, you guessed it, the six most common reasons why a steering wheel is hard to turn.
#1. A Faulty Power Steering Pump.
Your power steering pump is what makes everything easy to turn to begin with, so it’s reasonable to assume that if it’s not functioning properly, you’ll have a difficult time turning the steering wheel. If the power steering pump is the problem, you’ll likely notice many loud engine noises.
Power steering pumps may either go bad slowly, or it might just stop working altogether. If you suspect that your power steering pump is becoming iffy, you should change it as soon as possible, so it doesn’t go out on you completely while you’re driving!
In modern cars, you typically have an electric power steering pump, which can also fail.
#2. A Broken Serpentine Belt.
The power steering pump is usually belt driven in most vehicle applications and will not work if the belt is broken. If the power steering pump fails, you will have difficulty turning the wheel – and power steering is one of the best features on modern cars.
But if the problem is a broken serpentine belt, you will experience more than just difficulty with the steering wheel. The serpentine belt drives the air conditioning, engine fan, water pump, alternator, etc.
So, your frustrations will likely start with the steering issue!
#3. Low Power Steering Fluid.
Power steering pumps rely on fluid to work and are a sealed system. If there is a leak in the system, you will have problems sooner than later!
As you can probably already imagine from the broken power steering pump symptoms, if you are low on fluid, you will most likely be able to listen to some sounds from inside the engine bay as you attempt to turn.
Also, you cannot just add fluid and call it good if you are low on fluid! Your system is leaking somewhere, and you must fix it! Just keep in mind that if you run your power steering pumps without enough fluid, then eventually, you will damage that pump!
#4. Damaged Steering Components.
When everything is functional, all the components have room to move, and turning the wheel is easy. However, if a component is broken or damaged, you will have to force those components around that damage.
This puts a lot of extra pressure on the entire system, and it may make it difficult to turn the wheel. And if you do make that component move, you can break another component in the system, like the power steering pump.
#5. Low Tire Pressure.
Low tire pressure can affect the feel of your steering effort. The lower the pressure, the heavier the steering wheel can feel. By the time you feel it, your tires are probably very low.
Even if you’re really low on air, maybe even flat, your steering will feel better than with a broken serpentine belt or a blown power steering pump.
#6. Old Power Steering Fluid.
Just like every other fluid in the engine, power steering fluid will break down (over time) and need to be changed.
In general, power steering fluid is good for around 70,000 to 100,000 miles, but you may not notice any appreciable change to the effort to turn the steering wheel until long worth that mileage.
That said, that does not mean you should ignore changing your fluids all together. This is because older power steering fluid and cause your power steering pump and other steering components to fail prematurely which can mean more money spent on maintenance.
The Basic Mechanical Breakdown
Turning the steering wheel engages a mechanical process that turns your wheels the direction you intended. When everything is working correctly, you can sit back and steer the vehicle—like magic.
However, what is really happening is a lot more work. Most vehicles have a steering column that the steering wheel attaches to; when you turn the steering wheel you actually turn this steering column.
This steering column has a connection to your rack and pinion. When you turn the steering wheel, the rack and pinion is pushed one direction or another, which turns your wheels. Also, represented in this system is your power steering pump, which helps you push the rack and pinion.
If you don’t have a power steering pump, you would have to do 100 percent of the work to turn the wheel. This can be a challenge, especially when you are not moving.
In previous generations cars to assist with steering effort had much larger steering wheels, but as we have made vehicles more dependent on the power steering system, the steering wheels have decreased in size.
When it’s time to turn the steering wheel, you want it to be as easy as possible to turn. If it becomes hard to turn, it’s time to have someone take a look.
Although you may be capable of muscling past it for a short time, when the disaster arises, and you need to move out of the way, you must do it as quickly as possible.
Additionally, if you ignore the consideration the longer the possibility you will break more parts in the system. Fixing your steering system doesn’t have to be complicated; you just need to know where to look!