A thread in GQ prompted me to start a thread about engine rebuilds. Thinking of my Jeep in that thread prompts this one.
My Jeep is a 1999 Cherokee with over 200,000 miles on it. Over the last couple of months I’ve noticed that on start-up my steering is a bit heavy. After about ten seconds it’s fine. Has the power steering fluid degraded over the years? Is my power steering accumulator (or pump or unit or whatever it’s called) about to fail? Do I have a leak?
Best way to know is to get it checked out.
But, in lieu of that, I have the same issue with my truck. However, this usually happens when it’s colder outside.
Look up the part on any auto parts website so you know what it looks like, then find it under the hood. If there’s liquid coming out of it, its leaking. PS fluid is often flammable, so allowing it to drip on to hot engine parts is probably a bad idea.
Check the fluid. The level is easy enough to check, and with a white towel or paper you should be able to check the viscosity and see any particulates. Particulates would be bad, perhaps very, very bad, perhaps just worrying. If the fluid is particularly nasty-looking and/ or burnt-smelling, it’s probably time to replace it.
I believe you need a suction device to change the fluid – I’ve never had to do this procedure. Other culprits could be the steering gear – it may be worn, loose, or have lubrication issues.
Be sure and use the correct fluid – I used the wrong one in my Explorer, and had issues for a while until I corrected the problem. The lower-viscosity fluid I was using would vaporize, and the only way I knew I had a problem was the level kept dropping, and my windshield wipers kept failing. Power steering fluid does not play well with wipers.
It has been cold outside.
It could just be that your lines and steering column are just a bit shivery then.
If you turn your wheels to full lock, do you hear the pump making a soft whining noise? That might be a sign that it’s on the way out.
Then again, if it’s a leak in the steering house (I hope that’s an English word as well, translated it literally from Dutch :)), and it’s not too bad yet, it might last a few more years. My '95 Alfa has a slight leek there, and it’s just a matter of topping things off until the leak gets too bad and the steering house needs to be replaced (easily EUR 600 including labour, so it pays to put it off).
Other than that, your problem could indeed just be the cold. Keep an eye on the fluid level, and see what happens when spring comes around.