Hey everyone, over this brutal winter we had in omaha my power steering seemed to have went out. For a while, my ps would make a slight noise if I was really cranking the steering around a quick corner, and whatnot. I would open the cap to let it "vent" and it would seem to clear the problem up, until I abused the car a bit more.
One super snowy day, I got stuck in my driveway, was reversing with my wheel turned a bit, gave it some good gas, and all of a sudden the power steering just stopped working completely. I've been driving around for a few months like this, and have actually adapted to driving without it. Problem is, I dont want to effect something long term by doing this, and if this is a hard, super expensive fix, is there a pro to driving without ps? Easily removable?
How is the belt, pump, and fluid? this could be any of those, or a bad line, there is only 2. Worst case is your steering rack, thats bolted to the body and is a rather big unit. I wouldnt tackle that unless you got help and some brains of it. Your probobly will not hurt anything else by not fixing it (whatever it may be). The best is least likely, due to it runy you alt. AC and sometimes a water pump, but check anyway! That is the only way you will hurt anything. Let me know what comes up.
Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")
I have no idea about the pump. Fluid levels are fine, and as far as a belt goes, I had read that the eco cavs didnt have a belt to the power steering... I am going to assume its the pump, but i'll do a little more digging.
Pull the pump loose from the cam tower. i'll bet you snapped the hex drive off the pump.
hmm, would you happen to have any pictures on where it's located? I've never really messed with the power steering pump before... Is it located near the resevoir?