Possible power steering issue

[cavaliers60]

Pretty sure the power steering pump is out or something. My fiancee called today and said that she heard a noise coming from the car, and she lost her power steering. I had her open the hood with the car running and she said she believes there is a grinding sound coming from the car (she's not car savy). I had her start it tonight and see if she could turn the wheel and she can't without putting a lot of effort into it (like it's out).

My main question is, if I can drive it (muscle it), would it be alright driving it home? I would like to get it back to Vincennes... about an hour drive (fairly straight all the way home). I have a shop here in town that I trust.

[AleroB888]

Pretty sure the power steering pump is out or something. My fiancee called today and said that she heard a noise coming from the car, and she lost her power steering. I had her open the hood with the car running and she said she believes there is a grinding sound coming from the car (she's not car savy). I had her start it tonight and see if she could turn the wheel and she can't without putting a lot of effort into it (like it's out).

My main question is, if I can drive it (muscle it), would it be alright driving it home? I would like to get it back to Vincennes... about an hour drive (fairly straight all the way home). I have a shop here in town that I trust.

Can she check the fluid?

[cavaliers60]

lol no... I'm not sure where or how to check it myself. :lol: I'm sure I could figure it out if I poked around, but I'm an hour away... She's in school up there...

[Gr1m]

you really should not be turning the wheel if there is no fluid in the reservoir, you can damage/ruin the pump. only insight i have on a fix would be to find where its leaking and replace the fitting/hose. i had a leak on my high pressure line all the way under the car, what a bitch to change.

[cavaliers60]

Good point. I'll be driving up there to pick her up on Thursday, so We'll see what is going on with it. I'm not to comfortable driving it on the highway with no power steering anyways.

[cavaliers60]

Checked it out last night... Couldn't see anything (no flashlight), but I couldn't hear anything either. Car sounds normal... Just no power steering at all...

[cavaliers60]

Got back over to the car today and opened up the power steering tank. Bone dry. So, I filled it up and started the car. Turned the wheel all the way over (both directions) a few times, and shut the car off. Put some more fluid in (went in clear the first time, but was brown and bubbly when I opened it back up), and started the car back up and repeated the wheel turning. After that, I left the car on and checked for leaks. I see a lot of fluid dripping from in between the front wheels (think it's right in front of the oil pan)....I'm guessing this might be a hose leaking/broken? I wasn't able to get under the car... No jack with me. Any advice to what it could be that's leaking would be awesome! Thanks

[Thewolf]

It could be the high pressure hose, but that's located more behind the engine. My friend in his grand am was showing off and did a WOT then after when he drove it he lost his power steering it turns out that the high pressure hose blew off the hose clamp. I hope you weren't showing off lol. Yeah you could drive your car home without power steering but just don't get lost. :lol:

[cavaliers60]

It's in between the wheels... So it's behind the engine you could say.

[Ttop191]

It could be the high pressure hose, but that's located more behind the engine. My friend in his grand am was showing off and did a WOT then after when he drove it he lost his power steering it turns out that the high pressure hose blew off the hose clamp. I hope you weren't showing off lol. Yeah you could drive your car home without power steering but just don't get lost. :lol:

^ and pull the belt off you pump so you don't burn it up...I went through 3 PS pumps on my alero, they aren't cheap...

[Thewolf]

All you need to do is fit the hose back in and tighten the hose clamp but it's a pita to do. You'll have to put your car on jack stands or a ramp to do it. After that it should be good to go.

[cavaliers60]

Thanks man. I'll give it a shot. :)