Steering hickup after high speed?

[Flat60]

For the first time since I got my 94 Seville STS I pushed it a little bit harder (I first wanted to make sure it gets used to me as a probably more sporty driver than the previous owner that actually sold it because he had quit driving at all).

Compared to how I used to drive my former cars this was not a big deal, but after I drove it for about 10 minutes on the Autobahn with full throttle (resulting in a constant speed of something above 150 mph, actually the speedometer does not display more than this, the needle was at the limit - a funny thing btw) the steering felt much stiffer while I was driving through a long right turn after the exit, like there was no power steering at all.

I did not feel anything strange then travelling straight ahaed on a country road at about 50 mph, but when I had to turn sharp left after three miles it felt like all the power assist of the steering had gone.

When I drove back four hours later if felt ok again, but when I had to do my final parallel parking manouevre at home the steering felt quite stiff again.

The next day everything seemed to be back to normal. I checked the power steering fluid level on the cold engine and it was on the lower mark (»cold«). The color of the fluid is reddish-brown, but clear.

Has anyone ever experienced something similar? Is my pump giving up? Could it be a malfunction of the speed sensitive steering? I looked for codes, but nothing was displayed.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Marcus

[canadian95sts]

Marcus,

Sorry , I can't help with you rproblem, but I just wantd to say that i am extremly jealous, I wish I could drive my car on the Autobahn!!!!!!!!!!

Matt

[CadiKing]

Flat60,

I too had experienced this recently. Sometimes my steering becomes very

difficult when making a sudden maneuver at speed or, as you suggest, while

parking. I have not figured out hte cause yet, but I am curious how you

will diagnose it. Keep us posted.

Good luck...

[Scotty]

I am going to make a stretch here and say that this harder steering at high speed is by design, this is part of the spead sensitive steering feature. Anyone?

[Flat60]

Scotty,

well, I did not take the exit at 150 mph. Doing so might have caused more problems than hard steering, I suppose

When I encounterd the hard steering I was doing about 40 mph on the offramp and later even less, about 20 mph.

Marcus

[Scotty]

Scotty,

well, I did not take the exit at 150 mph. Doing so might have caused more problems than hard steering, I suppose

When I encounterd the hard steering I was doing about 40 mph on the offramp and later even less, about 20 mph.

Marcus

Hmm, seems like it did not return to 'normal' as it should have. I will have a look in my manual to see if there is a valve that may hang up causing your hard steering to be slow to return to easier steering.

Have you ever flushed your power steering system? I am about to flush mine before the winter due to hard steering on cold mornings. Do a search under flushing steering, also make sure you us the GM approved steering fluid if you flush it.. I think you will need two quarts to give it a good flush.

[navion]

I am going to make a stretch here and say that this harder steering at high speed is by design, this is part of the speed sensitive steering feature.  Anyone?

I believe that Scotty is correct on the steering getting stiffer at speed, but it should return to normal as the speed decreases.

What I find to be a possible cause of concern is the color of the power steering fluid. That color could mean that someone has put transmission fluid in the reservoir, OR that the system has had moisture in it and the red color is due to rust.

If the system has the wrong fluid in it, it could be foaming and loosing it's ability to assist the steering. This would be more apparent at high speeds as the pump is turning much faster than at normal road speeds.

The fact that the previous owner had quit driving the car at some point lends support to the "rust" cause. If moisture was in the system, the high speed run probably produced enough heat to cause the moisture to vaporize, leaving the rust discolored fluid. (All speculation) Contaminated fluid could cause the pressure relief valve to stick open, thus reducing the steering "assist".

If it was my vehicle, I would repeatedly pull all the fluid from the power steering reservoir and replace it with the proper power steering fluid. I would replace the fluid after a daily drive until the removed fluid comes out clear. This should remove most of the rust color and if done enough, over 99% of the fluid will be new.

Hopefully, changing the fluid will eliminate the problem and prolong the life of the system.

Good Luck,

Britt

[bigjayzway]

The high speeds are the "Speed Sensative Steering".

My 98 STS does the same thing.

The hard steering at lower speeds means just what you said....there is a problem with your pump, and it is evident....., in mine too, but for now, it really doesn't bug me.

On first start up in the mornings, you will find it is pretty good, but when it does become stiff just give it a little gas, and you will notce it is easier.

I would not worry about taking the ramps, it won't do anything drastic to throw you off the road.

I too wish I had the autobahn to play on!

Big Jay

[Scotty]

Marcus, read this thread about flushing the power steering..... BE CAREFUL, you don't break the nipple off the steering tank removing the return line, Mike

PS there also a filter on the steering line under the RF headlight area near the vacuum tank. Here is a photo

http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?sho...=steering+fluid

[CadiKing]

I am going to make a stretch here and say that this harder steering at high speed is by design, this is part of the spead sensitive steering feature.  Anyone?

Scotty,

Thanks for the link back in time...the post.

This problem feels like in the old days...

Remember back, if you can, to your first car....

you're triying to impress your girl...

your so slick behind the wheel of your Camaro...

when your power steering belt slips...

and the steering would get very difficult for a second...

and you have to remove your hand from her far shoulder

only to grab the steering wheel...

This has happened to me about four times over six months. Once when parking,

I had to stop to turn the wheel more, to save from hitting the parked car

ahead. Once on an off-ramp at (too) high speed. Got me for a second! Whew!

One time in traffic doing a quick lane change. It seems to manifest itself

if I try to turn too fast.

I plan to pump the fluid from the system...

I'll let you know.

[Scotty]

Hmm yes I do, it was the belt slipping creating a loss of power assist. I think britt had the right idea that the pressure relieve valve was sticking open, its possible that a flush will improve the problem..

[Flat60]

Thanks a lot for the valuable input. Right now my steering is (almost) back to normal, although I must admit that I haven't been «racing» on the Autobahn again. Somehow I have the impression that this car was not exactly designed for constant high speed. That's okay, I sold my Audi because I felt bored by driving way too fast all the time

What makes me a bit concerned: In slow speed or especially during parallel parking the steering is a bit more difficult to turn than it was before. Looks like I will have to check if the fluid change will cure anything.

Marcus

[Bob D]

I have the impression that this car was not exactly designed for constant high speed.

Marcus, I think your impression might be off a bit. The STS was designed for continuous high speed driving. In fact, I know a guy that did continuous 100 mph++ laps for many hours on a closed course track in more than one STS over the years. They ran flawlessly at continuous high speed, and +g's.

Remember, you car's almost ten years old. Some attention may be required for all cars by then..

[Flat60]

Hi Bob, 100 mph is no problem at all, this is my normal cruising speed... But this is not what we call "high speed" over here

Marcus

[Scotty]

OMG!

[Bob D]

Hi Bob, 100 mph is no problem at all, this is my normal cruising speed... But this is not what we call "high speed" over here

Marcus

I realize that Marcus, I've driven on the Autobahn, starting in the 1960's. I should have been more precise than "100++mph". It was 145-150 mph, near the STS's top end.

[Flat60]

Don't get me wrong, things are simply a bit different here and 100 mph is really not fast if everybody knows what he is doing and the streets and rules are accordingly.

I was much more scared during my daily commute from Braintree to the western part of Boston although this was much slower. But people seemed to be much less aware that they are actually sitting in a dangerous, moving piece of metal. Have you ever wondered why so many German cars still come without cupholders?

But back on topic, I will change the steering fluid over the weekend and I hope that this will have a positive effect.

Regards,

Marcus

(now heading to the weekly car meeting, if you have a fast internet connection you can look here: B-King)