Variable Effort Steering

[doubleN0alero]

buddy of mine posted this on another site...just trying to see if somebody here has some knowledge about this sort of thing...

I Love my car, I hate my car, I love my car. Sometimes I just wish Honda or Toyota built it instead of GM... But overall, I still love my 2000 Alero.

In the past month I have replaced several parts including a bad engine thermostat, both passenger's side window regulator/motor assemblies as well as a front passenger's side Hub/Bearing/ABS Sensor Assembly. And just when I thought my problems were all fixed for awhile, another seems to have surfaced.

My mother complained right before we replaced the ABS Sensor assembly that the car's steering was very loose and she just couldn't keep the car going straight. After stressing to her that nothing was wrong and that it was just a bit different than driving the minivan (and not being able to figure out what she was talking about when I drove the car) I passed it off as just her not being used to driving the car. This was all 5 days ago.

I had a meeting to attend tonight that invoved travel on a very familiar country road tonight. I've driven to this particular destination many times and know the road and how the car handles on the road's curves (which are many as its a country road). The car was fine for the first few miles when suddenly the steering became really loose and the car felt "floaty". Coming up on a not so nicely banked S Curve, I hit the brakes testing to make sure I was not suddenly driving on black ice. The car slowed as I expected proving the road was NOT icy. The car then felt the same the rest of the drive. After sitting for 2 hours during the meeting, the car drove normally my entire way home.

Upon looking quickly in the manual, I see that the Alero had something of a "Variable Effort Steering" option. How do I find out if my car has this option and if so, how might I troubleshoot this intermittant problem? Has anyone else had trouble like this where the steering suddenly seems limp?

Thanks again!

joc1394

P.S. - I noticed the thread about scaring away potential buyers. My response to anyone is that I truly love my car. Its fun to drive, gets great gas mileage for a V6, and I feel it is very comfortable. I really enjoy driving this car. What I don't like is all the electrical gremlins in this car (the famous ABS Sensor, Blower Motor Resistor Pack, etc.) and the cheap GM components (I love my aftermarket brakes and all the great quality aftermarket parts in general I've put on as replacements). If you're buying from a dealer, I highly recommend buying the warranty, unlike me. It will just save you in the long run (especially when buying an older model year) and make your experience much happier! Sorry for rambling and congrats to you if you've made it the whole way through!

[b-spot]

For my year, 2002, I think the variable effort was on all GLS's and possibly GL's, I can't remember.

[falloutboy]

So again, the germans have to help

Ok, I dunno about which model has varaibel effort steering.
(But My has

I only can tell, u what it does, and what might be wrong.

But its realy difficult to translate.
And due to the fact that i catched a flew. I dont wanna make unnessery efforts.
(Sorry)

So Tell me if u wanna know more about it, and how to repair ur sluggish feeling