# Power Steering - power = no power or steering

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-steering-power-no-power-or-steering/99049>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 19, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-steering-power-no-power-or-steering/99049 "2002-03-19T15:20:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mr.Fabulous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Mr.Fabulous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Fabulous)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-steering-power-no-power-or-steering/99049/1 "2002-03-19T15:20:02Z")

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I’ve got a 69 mustang. At one point the power steering cylinder had come detached from the chassis. I finally got the bushings, etc… and put it back on. I started up the car, the steering worked good. I drove it around the block, the steering worked good. I got back to my driveway, the steering was gone. Well, I could steer it, but it was very, very difficult. If you’ve ever been driving down the road and your car dies, that’s how hard it was to steer, only the car didn’t die. It has fluid, and it’s not moaning as if it doesn’t. The pulley on the power steering pump is turning. If anyone has an idea what the problem could be, it would be much appreciated.

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-steering-power-no-power-or-steering/99049/2 "2002-03-19T16:27:51Z")

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Assuming nothing came loose, either the pump isn’t generating enough pressure or there’s a failure of the cylinder(s). At this point, it will likely require a system pressure test to identify the problem.

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**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-steering-power-no-power-or-steering/99049/3 "2002-03-19T18:49:24Z")

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I agree - it sounds like a complete cylinder failure. Or, in one very rare instance, I heard of the shaft breaking from the pump, and still staying in the pump unit - so the pulley was turning, but there was no motion of the pump. I have no idea if that is even possible with your year Mustang.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Fabulous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Mr.Fabulous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Fabulous)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-steering-power-no-power-or-steering/99049/4 "2002-03-19T22:51:24Z")

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The pump is relatively new, so I kind of doubt it would break already, but stranger things have happened. I will check the cylinder and see what happens. Thanks.