Power assist makes it easier to turn the steering wheel. Hydraulic power steering solved a problem with classic cars being harder to turn at lower speeds, and today some newer vehicles have electronic assist steering. If your vehicle has hydraulic power steering, you might hear a whine or have to use more strength to turn the steering wheel when the system has issues. Find out common problems with the power steering system, like low power steering fluid symptoms, why the hydraulic power steering system in your car might cause harder and noisier steering, and how you can fix it yourself.

Low Power Steering Fluid Symptoms

If you drive a modern car, you might not have hydraulic power steering. Some cars have electronic assist steering. If you hear a whine or it’s harder to turn the steering wheel, it’s usually because the power steering fluid is low, the hydraulic system is low on pressure, or the power steering pump failed.

Harder to Move the Steering Wheel

If the power steering system is low on power steering fluid, there will be less pressure in the system to move fluid, and this will make it harder to steer. Harder steering will be felt by having to use more manual force to turn the steering wheel, and this can be noticed more when idling, which is running the engine with the vehicle stopped, or driving at lower speeds.

Loud Whining Noise When Turning the Steering Wheel

The whining sound happens when there’s less pressure to push power steering fluid to the steering rack. This can happen because there’s a problem with the power steering pump or if there is low power steering fluid. Low power steering fluid can damage the power steering pump, and this can affect the system’s ability to pressurize and help you turn the steering wheel.

Why Is My Steering Wheel Hard to Turn and Why Does My Steering Whine?

If you hear a whine or the steering wheel is hard to turn, typically it’s because the power steering fluid level is low or it is contaminated, the system is low on pressure, or there is a faulty power steering pump.

Faulty Power Steering Pump

The power steering pump is powered by the engine via a pulley and serpentine belt. It has an inlet and outlet for fluid to move through after it has been pressurized. As the serpentine belt spins the pulley, the veins, which are machined metal inside the pump that fall and hit against an oblonged cam ring, open up and pressurize the power steering lines.

If parts like the pressure plate’s gasket leaks, this can prevent pressure from building up in the system. The pump also has an external seal to prevent dust and dirt from contaminating the pump. If fluid is leaking from this seal, it doesn’t mean only that seal is faulty and there could also be a seal inside the pump leaking.

Low power steering fluid creates an opportunity for air to build in the system and depressurize it, and the wrong fluid or contaminated power steering fluid can damage the internal components of the pump.

If the pump is faulty, the pressure plate can have scrapes from internal metal scraping against it, and this happens from not being lubricated properly.

There may also be issues along the veins, where they have difficulty functioning properly, and issues along the cam with signs of scraping. There may also be scraping marks on the back end cover.

Low Pressure in Power Steering System

An intermittent loss of power assist or a whining noise could be an indicator of low power steering fluid. Low fluid can allow air to build in the system and create air bubbles. These bubbles can depressurize the system. Contaminated fluid, mixing fluid with the power steering fluid, and a broken power steering pump can also cause low pressure in the power steering system.

Low Power Steering Fluid

If the power steering fluid is low, air can build up in the power steering system and depressurize it. As the system depressurizes, fluid will take longer to lubricate the parts and help you steer, and less fluid can also damage parts like the power steering pump as there is less fluid to lubricate it help it function.

What Should I Do If the Power Steering Fluid Is Low?

If the power steering fluid is low, check the condition of the fluid, drain it to remove all old fluid, and add new fluid to the system.

Steps to take when the power steering fluid is low

Inspect the Power Steering Fluid
Open power steering fluid reservoir and inspect the fluid. Manufacturers have different recommendations of the kind of fluid to use, but it should have an appearance similar to the original. You can remove the fluid with a fluid extractor.

This video explains more
Don’t Just Add New Fluid
Removing dirty fluid from the power steering fluid reservoir won’t just fix this problem. There will still be fluid in the pump and the rest of the system.

If reservoir is mounted directly to the pump, you’ll hear whining when the fluid is low. You may not hear whining with low fluid if the reservoir is located elsewhere and there is fluid still in the system and pump.
Don’t Mix Fluids with the Power Steering Fluid
If fluid is low, you might improvise to reach your destination. You can add an additive designed to thicken the fluid and build up pressure. Adding different fluids to low power steering fluid like water or brake fluid can damage parts in system.

Mixing fluids together can cause whining and it can aerate the system. The fluid will need to be drained from the system and replaced.
Drain the System
Flush the power steering system to remove all contamination and any old fluid.
Refill the system with Power Steering Fluid
Add new fluid to the system and bleed it.

Watch this video for tips on how to bleed power steering fluid

How Do I Prevent Problems with the Power Steering System?

Change the Power Steering Fluid Regularly

Check your owner’s manual for interval service dates on how to change the fluid. We recommend regularly checking the fluid and changing it before it’s low or contaminated. Check for the type of fluid to use on the top of the cap or the owner’s manual.

Don’t Leave Fluid in the System for Too Long

Leaving used fluid in the system for too long could damage the power steering system, especially if the vehicle has been driven for over 200,000 miles.

Fix low power steering symptoms, learn about more parts and save when you shop 1aauto.com.

Shop Parts and Tools

Learn How to Do More Than Find Low Power Steering Fluid Symptoms with How-to Videos

Our how-to videos have instructions by mechanics to help you diagnose and replace more than hydraulic power steering symptoms and solutions like low power steering fluid. We have thousands of videos with model-specific and general advice to help you work on your vehicle.

Low Power Steering Fluid Symptoms: Power Steering Whine and Hard Steering