I dont know much about rack and pinion steering but here is what I have. sometimes it feels like my power steering is ok then it feels like I have none then tonight it feels like manual. could my pump be going bad? it whined for a while and now it makes no noise and there is no power fluid is full. please help :toilet:
I think your pump died.
I second
I Third.
Fix ASAP or possibly experience the locking sensation when you attempt to turn. Not very comforting indeed. Also try to remove as much of the old fluid as possible... I elected not to on my first p/s pump replacement and it went bad soon after. Then again, my fluid looked more like muddy water, but just a heads up. :)
its interesting, my car didnt have fluid for quite a few years, the pump was silent, i put fluid in it, the pump got loud, but my steering works
Yeah if you empty out all of the fluid you have then its like a manual rack. The fluid in the rack will lubricate it. I dont think I would keep it like that forever, but so far my car has been okay.
actually, a power rack with no fluid is worse than a manual rack
I am having the locking problem when I try to turn. I'll look into a new pump.