The steering pump is an element of the vehicle's hydraulic control system designed to create and maintain the necessary pressure in the system and circulation of the working fluid. The design of the pump may vary. The most common are bladed ones, characterized by high performance and wear resistance. The pump is mounted on the engine and driven by a belt from the crankshaft.
Main symptoms of steering pump malfunctions
Causes of malfunctions:
Considering that the steering pump is a rather complex and important component of the steering system, it is advisable to trust the diagnosis of its technical condition to service center technicians. Such types of work must be carried out by qualified specialists who have the necessary equipment and knowledge at their disposal. Any mistake or incorrect action can lead to premature failure of the entire power steering. In addition to the dangers that steering problems pose, this will inevitably lead to the need for expensive repairs.
When replacing the steering pump, you should pay attention to some points, such as replacing the hydraulic oil filter, flushing the entire power steering system when replacing the pump. This is required in order to remove metal particles from it, which are wear products. If you do not flush the entire power steering system, the replaced power steering pump may fail very quickly.
The positive qualities of using a hydraulic booster in the steering design include:
Disadvantages of using hydraulic booster.
For this purpose, a more advanced design was developed - the hydraulic pump was replaced by an electric pump, that is, it is driven not by the crankshaft, but by a separate electric motor. The control unit controls its operation. At low speeds the pump rotation speed is maximum, and at high speeds it is limited by the control unit. Therefore, the higher the speed, the less effort the electric motor expends to turn the steering wheel. Replacing the hydraulic pump with an electric pump can reduce fuel consumption by up to 0.2 quarts per 100 miles.
The power steering light commonly warns about the loss of hydraulic or electric steering assist; if hydraulic, it's probably due to low power steering fluid; if electric, the electronic steering columns are probably the culprits. However, it might also be a warning about a broken internal component, like the pump, rack, or angle sensor.
Stay alert if your car's dashboard begins to pop the "steering warning" light. Your vehicle might be under progressive damage and might require hefty repairs in the future; it'll also feature considerable safety risks. So please keep track of your car's odd behaviors and browse through our articles to find out the information you'll need to share with your go-to auto shop.