power steering is tight

[shotime1994]

I have a 94 MTX with vaps. Today when stopped the steering is tight and can't turn the steering wheel. When accelerating, I can turn the wheel. My question is: Is the rack bad or is the variable assist solenoid bad? :thankyou:

 

[rubydist]

could be either the rack or the vaps module, or even a connector issue.

 

[shotime1994]

If I put the car in the air while its running I can turn the steering wheel easily. So is the pump bad because I can not turn the wheel while the car is on the ground.

 

[220ksho]

Please clarify what you mean by "can't turn the steering wheel". Can't turn it at all? (stuck on something) or Very hard to turn? (power steering not working)

I'm referring to the rear subframe mount recall...........

 

[shotime1994]

I cant turn it at all. Something messed up with power steering.

 

[rubydist]

then it could be the pump also - if the relief valve is stuck open or the pump is shot, it will not make any pressure.

 

[Sholovenothate]

I have the exact OPPOSITE thing going on. When my car is idle.. i can turn the steering wheel all over the place with one finger. When the car is moving its scary how easy it is to move the wheel. I don't like it honestly. It makes me nervous to have the wheel that soft. I could accidentally bump the wheel and send the car flying if i'm not careful. Hoping to figure this out.

I was told by the guy I bought it from that it had a "new steering rack" .. i guess I gotta go through the receipts he gave me to figure out exactly what is in there.

 

[shotime1994]

If the relief valve was stuck open I wouldn't be able to turn the wheel at idle.

 

[lowc]

i thought you couldnt at idle

if you can while veh is in the air then it more than likely the pump as it doesnt have the presure or force of vehicals weight thus not needing the valve to close to build up the presure needed to turn the wheels. under acceleration you forcefuly presurising it the system.
im with rubydist odds are its the pump or the valve

 

[shotime1994]

i thought you couldnt at idle

if you can while veh is in the air then it more than likely the pump as it doesnt have the presure or force of vehicals weight thus not needing the valve to close to build up the presure needed to turn the wheels. under acceleration you forcefuly presurising it the system.
im with rubydist odds are its the pump or the valve

So if the valve is bad can I change that or do is it in the pump?

 

[rubydist]

I have the exact OPPOSITE thing going on. When my car is idle.. i can turn the steering wheel all over the place with one finger. When the car is moving its scary how easy it is to move the wheel. I don't like it honestly. It makes me nervous to have the wheel that soft. I could accidentally bump the wheel and send the car flying if i'm not careful. Hoping to figure this out.

I was told by the guy I bought it from that it had a "new steering rack" .. i guess I gotta go through the receipts he gave me to figure out exactly what is in there.

sounds like the vaps is staying in high-boost at all times. this may be a bad rack, improperly connected wiring, or a bad vaps controller.

 

[shotime1994]

Little update I changed the pump and pressure hose yesterday and still cant turn the steering wheel at idel. I guess im going to do the rack now.

 

[220ksho]

so, what if you're sitting still and you rev the engine? Can you turn the wheel then?

Does it feel mechanically "stuck" or is it "very hard to turn" at idle while it's on the ground? If the rear subframe bushings are loose, the subframe will tilt and cause the universal joint in the steering column to contact the firewall. This goes away when you raise the vehicle by the subframe. It also goes away under accelaration when the torque transfer to the ground lifts it up.