Steering is hard to steer?

LIONNUT

MEMBER
2006 SUBARU FORESTER
2.5L
4 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
120,000 MILES

When the car is cold, especially in the winter, the power steering is very hard until the car warms up. After warm, the car steers normally. The fan belt has been changed and is tight with no slippage. The power steering reservoir is also full. Do you think a system flush would help or do you think there is another problem?

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

It is unlikely that a system flush would work. However, if you want to try, it cannot hurt. Here is a guide that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/power-steering-fluid-flush

Assuming that does not help, I suspect you are going to have to replace the pump. More then likely what is happening is the pump is weak and when the fluid is cold it cannot push it through the system too easily. Then when it gets warm and the fluid thins out, the pump can move it easier and it starts working.

Here is a guide that will help with the replacement:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-power-steering-pump

Lastly I attached the process below on how to replace it from the manual.

Let us know what questions you have. Thanks

Images (Click to make bigger)