Power steering wheel problem!
 

Hi guys,

the car is 1997 LT1 formula AUTO

my steering wheel is acting crazy.. it is sometimes turning, sometimes it is so hard to turn, it turns like normal a few inches and then gets harder (like the car is off)... does the same over and over.. basicly it is so hard to turn the steering wheel.. like trucks.. what do you think it could be?
also whenever l drive the car a little, and then l open the hood and try to oped the lid of powersteering flued tank and it kicks the air oout like opening a new bottfe of PEPSI. after that it works ok for a little while.. is that normal??

please help guys, this is the only car l have..

thanks

Re: Power steering wheel problem!
 

Sounds like u have a vac leak

Re: Power steering wheel problem!
 

soo what is it? where is it? how to fix it? how much would it cost?

Re: Power steering wheel problem!
 

When u take the top off it lets off pres

Re: Power steering wheel problem!
 

Sounds like you might have belt slippage. How old is your serpentine belt? Since the belt drives the pump, if the belt is slipping, you loose assist.

Also, the PS system is pressurized. Opening the cap when the system is warm removes the pressure, and shouldn't effect what you are seeing. The pressure will come back once the cars goes through another cool.hot cycle.

Dan

Re: Power steering wheel problem!
 

Check to see if your waterpump is dripping out the weep hole in the bottom of the housing. When this happens, it drips directly on the accessory belt causing slippage and steering to act the way you described.

Re: Power steering wheel problem!
 

guys thanks alot.. yesterday l opened the hood and l took a look at the engine and l say for some reasion my belt was all wet and it was spray a little coolant.. i tried to dry and afther that l ran the car again and l found out my steering wheel works fine and then got wet again and the steering wheel act like that again..

well, my waterpump is new GM dealer installed 6k miles ago.. so how can l check where this coolant leaks?

Re: Power steering wheel problem!
 

dont let this problem stick around too long, ur opti isnt gonna be very happy