So there can be issues on power steering mainly assist fault. We are going to talk about Power steering assist fault today specially. Driving a car has become easier and safer since the introduction of power steering technology in cars. This provides greater maneuverability and better control over the vehicle. The power steering system includes a hydraulic power steering system and an auxiliary power steering system as an option. In the event of a failure, a power steering failure warning will appear. When this happens, do you need to know how to troubleshoot power steering.
Power steering assist fault – What is power steering?
In the past, there was only one way to drive a car. You put your hands on the wheel and give it your all. 1951 was the first year power steering was introduced. It’s hydraulic power steering. It was a 1951 Empire Chrysler. This technology is relevant for the next 50 years. We have APE these days. I mean electric power steering. It still has a hydraulic pump and runs on hydraulic oil. But instead of absorbing the power generated by the engine, it uses an electric pump to pressurize the fluid that helps drive the car.
How does it work?
The system works like any other hydraulic system. But how does it create pressure and how accurate is it. Accuracy is maintained by a series of components large and small. When the steering device moves in one direction, the liquid stored in the reservoir is pumped out. Hydraulic fluid transmits and increases the force applied to the steering wheel and wheels. There was a time when the pump was powered by a motor. It is connected to the motor by a belt and uses the power of the motor to run the pump. Today we see an electric pump that generates the necessary energy for the pump. An additional belt attached to the motor is known to consume a lot of energy. The belt will connect even if you are not driving. This makes the whole system inefficient. The introduction of electric pumps solved this problem.
Power steering assist fault – Electric pump
The electric pump draws power from the battery when needed, making the entire system more efficient. Power steering basically means your power steering. In the past, our systems ran entirely on hydraulic oil and engine power. Hybrid systems using electric pumps are more common these days. Another aspect of power steering is EPAS. This is independent of the hydraulic system. Now this is becoming a new feature of technology. Many new vehicle features, such as lane keeping assist, parallel parking assist and turning functions, have been developed based on this new EPAS steering system.
Faulty steering angle sensor
For power steering to work properly, it needs to know how far the steering wheel is turned and whether it is straight ahead. To know this, the car uses a steering angle sensor located behind the steering wheel. If this sensor is damaged and indicates an incorrect angle, it will trigger a power steering error message. When this sensor is also faulty, you may have other issues with your traction control or other important systems.
Power steering assist fault – Improper wheel alignment
If you have really bad lean, this can make the computer think it’s a steering angle sensor problem, resulting in a power steering assist error message. If you find that your steering wheel is not straight even when driving straight at high speed, or your car pulls to one side, you may have a wheel alignment problem. In some cases, the problem can be as simple as a blown fuse in the power steering pump or other power steering system. Normally, if there’s no problem, the fuse shouldn’t blow, but it could actually be a power surge. Check your owner’s manual for the location of the power steering fuse on your vehicle.
Electrical failure
Electrical issues are always to blame, especially if you have an updated power steering system. If the fluid is full and you’ve checked other things, this will be your next step. This may be due to low battery. If the indicator on the dash is on, you can use the code scanner to find the problem. You should also check the wiring and connectors that make up the steering system, as problems can develop after many years of operation.
Power steering assist fault – Failure Belt
If you have traditional power steering, a belt runs on the motor. It uses electricity to power the power steering. However, such conveyor belts are known to cause problems. If you hear strange noises when cornering, the problem may be a faulty belt.
Faulty power steering pump
Both conventional and electric steering systems have pumps, although they work differently. If the pump begins to fail, fluid will not flow through the system. Either way, the pump is less likely to fail, but it’s not impossible. If troubleshooting leads to no other cause, it may be time to evaluate the pump.
Add liquid
It is important to check your power steering fluid frequently and top up if necessary. Even though the system shouldn’t be leaking fluid, it’s always wise to double check. If you notice a drop of liquid, you need to add it and find out what caused the sudden drop. Any leak must be repaired immediately. Most automakers also recommend changing your power steering fluid every four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. If the fluid is not changed, contamination can occur, reducing its effectiveness in doing the job.
Power steering assist fault – Check the error code
You should always use an OBD2 scanner to read trouble codes before troubleshooting any electrical equipment on your vehicle. This can give you some very valuable information so you don’t have to waste your money. If a power steering error message appears on the instrument panel, an error code is stored that explains why the light is on. You can go to a body shop and have the trouble codes read, or you can buy your own OBD2 scanner. However, it is important to get a scanner that is compatible with your model’s power steering system.