Need help now with power steering
My power steering in my 06 lacrosse went out a few months ago. I have continued to drive just harder to turn. A few days ago the car started making a high pitched whining sound. Just wondering if I am going to damage something if I have to drive to work. Appreciate any help with this. This is my only means of transportation I don't have enough money to take it to an actual shop need someone to do it as a side job!!!!!
power-steering power
asked 4 hours ago
Tawnya DunawayTawnya Dunaway
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My power steering in my 06 lacrosse went out a few months ago. I have continued to drive just harder to turn. A few days ago the car started making a high pitched whining sound. Just wondering if I am going to damage something if I have to drive to work. Appreciate any help with this. This is my only means of transportation I don't have enough money to take it to an actual shop need someone to do it as a side job!!!!!
power-steering power
asked 4 hours ago
Tawnya DunawayTawnya Dunaway
161
New contributor
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
My power steering in my 06 lacrosse went out a few months ago. I have continued to drive just harder to turn. A few days ago the car started making a high pitched whining sound. Just wondering if I am going to damage something if I have to drive to work. Appreciate any help with this. This is my only means of transportation I don't have enough money to take it to an actual shop need someone to do it as a side job!!!!!
power-steering power
asked 4 hours ago
Tawnya DunawayTawnya Dunaway
161
New contributor
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
My power steering in my 06 lacrosse went out a few months ago. I have continued to drive just harder to turn. A few days ago the car started making a high pitched whining sound. Just wondering if I am going to damage something if I have to drive to work. Appreciate any help with this. This is my only means of transportation I don't have enough money to take it to an actual shop need someone to do it as a side job!!!!!
power-steering power
power-steering power
asked 4 hours ago
Tawnya DunawayTawnya Dunaway
161
New contributor
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Tawnya DunawayTawnya Dunaway
161
New contributor
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Tawnya DunawayTawnya Dunaway
161
New contributor
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Tawnya DunawayTawnya Dunaway
161
asked 4 hours ago
Tawnya DunawayTawnya Dunaway
161
161
New contributor
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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It depends on why the power steering "went out", but if there's something wrong with the pump or a leak caused the pump to run dry there is a possibility the pump could fail catastrophically and make the serpentine belt come off. I wouldn't say that is very likely, but then again, you've been driving it for months. When I was young my dad drove a truck for years after the steering went out, so I guess all I can say is that it's a gamble.
If the belt comes off, your alternator is going to stop which will cause your car to eventually die and not start again. The battery light coming on will be your first sign that the belt is loose or broken. It would also cause the water pump to stop which would cause the car to overheat and could get very serious if you didn't stop.
For now, start the car and watch the belt and all the pulleys to make sure the pump isn't frozen up. Keep clear of the belt! They can easily take off fingers. If the pump seems to be turning slower than normal it's probably slipping and will cause the belt to fail quickly - don't drive it or plan on getting stuck somewhere.
Since you are in "can't afford to fix it" mode, the best thing to do would be to take off the belt and inspect the power steering pump. See if the pulley is loose and see if it turns freely. If it's hard to turn or wobbles, you're going to want to replace the pump. That usually isn't a terribly difficult job, but on some cars it can be a pain.
answered 4 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
If you were fixing it yourself (it's not hard - youtube will teach you how), you might see if you can find one in a junk yard. I got a power steering pump for my car for $14 at my local self-pull junk yard when the old one seized.
– the_storyteller
4 hours ago
Yep, pump is not normally a hard fix. I had a car with a leaky steering rack and that combined with some other issues made it easier to just git rid of the car...
– JPhi1618
4 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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It depends on why the power steering "went out", but if there's something wrong with the pump or a leak caused the pump to run dry there is a possibility the pump could fail catastrophically and make the serpentine belt come off. I wouldn't say that is very likely, but then again, you've been driving it for months. When I was young my dad drove a truck for years after the steering went out, so I guess all I can say is that it's a gamble.
If the belt comes off, your alternator is going to stop which will cause your car to eventually die and not start again. The battery light coming on will be your first sign that the belt is loose or broken. It would also cause the water pump to stop which would cause the car to overheat and could get very serious if you didn't stop.
For now, start the car and watch the belt and all the pulleys to make sure the pump isn't frozen up. Keep clear of the belt! They can easily take off fingers. If the pump seems to be turning slower than normal it's probably slipping and will cause the belt to fail quickly - don't drive it or plan on getting stuck somewhere.
Since you are in "can't afford to fix it" mode, the best thing to do would be to take off the belt and inspect the power steering pump. See if the pulley is loose and see if it turns freely. If it's hard to turn or wobbles, you're going to want to replace the pump. That usually isn't a terribly difficult job, but on some cars it can be a pain.
answered 4 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
If you were fixing it yourself (it's not hard - youtube will teach you how), you might see if you can find one in a junk yard. I got a power steering pump for my car for $14 at my local self-pull junk yard when the old one seized.
– the_storyteller
4 hours ago
Yep, pump is not normally a hard fix. I had a car with a leaky steering rack and that combined with some other issues made it easier to just git rid of the car...
– JPhi1618
4 hours ago
add a comment |
It depends on why the power steering "went out", but if there's something wrong with the pump or a leak caused the pump to run dry there is a possibility the pump could fail catastrophically and make the serpentine belt come off. I wouldn't say that is very likely, but then again, you've been driving it for months. When I was young my dad drove a truck for years after the steering went out, so I guess all I can say is that it's a gamble.
If the belt comes off, your alternator is going to stop which will cause your car to eventually die and not start again. The battery light coming on will be your first sign that the belt is loose or broken. It would also cause the water pump to stop which would cause the car to overheat and could get very serious if you didn't stop.
For now, start the car and watch the belt and all the pulleys to make sure the pump isn't frozen up. Keep clear of the belt! They can easily take off fingers. If the pump seems to be turning slower than normal it's probably slipping and will cause the belt to fail quickly - don't drive it or plan on getting stuck somewhere.
Since you are in "can't afford to fix it" mode, the best thing to do would be to take off the belt and inspect the power steering pump. See if the pulley is loose and see if it turns freely. If it's hard to turn or wobbles, you're going to want to replace the pump. That usually isn't a terribly difficult job, but on some cars it can be a pain.
answered 4 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
If you were fixing it yourself (it's not hard - youtube will teach you how), you might see if you can find one in a junk yard. I got a power steering pump for my car for $14 at my local self-pull junk yard when the old one seized.
– the_storyteller
4 hours ago
Yep, pump is not normally a hard fix. I had a car with a leaky steering rack and that combined with some other issues made it easier to just git rid of the car...
– JPhi1618
4 hours ago
add a comment |
It depends on why the power steering "went out", but if there's something wrong with the pump or a leak caused the pump to run dry there is a possibility the pump could fail catastrophically and make the serpentine belt come off. I wouldn't say that is very likely, but then again, you've been driving it for months. When I was young my dad drove a truck for years after the steering went out, so I guess all I can say is that it's a gamble.
If the belt comes off, your alternator is going to stop which will cause your car to eventually die and not start again. The battery light coming on will be your first sign that the belt is loose or broken. It would also cause the water pump to stop which would cause the car to overheat and could get very serious if you didn't stop.
For now, start the car and watch the belt and all the pulleys to make sure the pump isn't frozen up. Keep clear of the belt! They can easily take off fingers. If the pump seems to be turning slower than normal it's probably slipping and will cause the belt to fail quickly - don't drive it or plan on getting stuck somewhere.
Since you are in "can't afford to fix it" mode, the best thing to do would be to take off the belt and inspect the power steering pump. See if the pulley is loose and see if it turns freely. If it's hard to turn or wobbles, you're going to want to replace the pump. That usually isn't a terribly difficult job, but on some cars it can be a pain.
answered 4 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
It depends on why the power steering "went out", but if there's something wrong with the pump or a leak caused the pump to run dry there is a possibility the pump could fail catastrophically and make the serpentine belt come off. I wouldn't say that is very likely, but then again, you've been driving it for months. When I was young my dad drove a truck for years after the steering went out, so I guess all I can say is that it's a gamble.
If the belt comes off, your alternator is going to stop which will cause your car to eventually die and not start again. The battery light coming on will be your first sign that the belt is loose or broken. It would also cause the water pump to stop which would cause the car to overheat and could get very serious if you didn't stop.
For now, start the car and watch the belt and all the pulleys to make sure the pump isn't frozen up. Keep clear of the belt! They can easily take off fingers. If the pump seems to be turning slower than normal it's probably slipping and will cause the belt to fail quickly - don't drive it or plan on getting stuck somewhere.
Since you are in "can't afford to fix it" mode, the best thing to do would be to take off the belt and inspect the power steering pump. See if the pulley is loose and see if it turns freely. If it's hard to turn or wobbles, you're going to want to replace the pump. That usually isn't a terribly difficult job, but on some cars it can be a pain.
answered 4 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
answered 4 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
answered 4 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
answered 4 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
12.5k33069
If you were fixing it yourself (it's not hard - youtube will teach you how), you might see if you can find one in a junk yard. I got a power steering pump for my car for $14 at my local self-pull junk yard when the old one seized.
– the_storyteller
4 hours ago
Yep, pump is not normally a hard fix. I had a car with a leaky steering rack and that combined with some other issues made it easier to just git rid of the car...
– JPhi1618
4 hours ago
add a comment |
If you were fixing it yourself (it's not hard - youtube will teach you how), you might see if you can find one in a junk yard. I got a power steering pump for my car for $14 at my local self-pull junk yard when the old one seized.
– the_storyteller
4 hours ago
Yep, pump is not normally a hard fix. I had a car with a leaky steering rack and that combined with some other issues made it easier to just git rid of the car...
– JPhi1618
4 hours ago
If you were fixing it yourself (it's not hard - youtube will teach you how), you might see if you can find one in a junk yard. I got a power steering pump for my car for $14 at my local self-pull junk yard when the old one seized.
– the_storyteller
4 hours ago
If you were fixing it yourself (it's not hard - youtube will teach you how), you might see if you can find one in a junk yard. I got a power steering pump for my car for $14 at my local self-pull junk yard when the old one seized.
– the_storyteller
4 hours ago
Yep, pump is not normally a hard fix. I had a car with a leaky steering rack and that combined with some other issues made it easier to just git rid of the car...
– JPhi1618
4 hours ago
Yep, pump is not normally a hard fix. I had a car with a leaky steering rack and that combined with some other issues made it easier to just git rid of the car...
– JPhi1618
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tawnya Dunaway is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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