2000 Pontiac Grand Am steering issues

MARVINJ276

MEMBER
2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
94,600 MILES

This is our 2nd car. During the winter it got stuck in the snow. While I was doing the forward/reverse and steering side to side to get traction thing the power steering stopped working. It's still filled with fluid, makes none of the sounds a power steering pump normally makes when going bad. One person told me possibly I'd either gotten air into the steering box or had caused fluid to fill both sides of the pistons. He suggested drianing and refilling it would fix this. I have no idea however how to drain a power steering unit. Until this happened I didn't even know there was such a thing as a steering box. Any advice of trying this or how to do it before I buy a new power steering pump and or steering box. Thanks, Marvin

3 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

This could one of two things. First powersteering pumps don't get air in them when you go lock to lock it works it way out as the p/s pump has a lot of pressure. Have the pump checked to see if it has any pressure to it. It can also be the steering rack has gone bad. Especially if you had no power steering one way or while it was cold then got warm and it went away.

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Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 AT 5:18 PM

MARVINJ276

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Thanks I'll check both. I have to admit after decades of driving with no power steering issues the mechanics behind it are a complete mystery. I didn't even know cars had a steering box until I started researching this. It's a small car and driving it without power steering isn't the end of the world but it would be nice to have it back. The pump makes no noise at all like I've heard from power steering pumps going bad and this happened spontaneously with me trying to get it unstuck from a snow bank. I'd figured when the snow and ice melted out of it the steering would come back but it was 97 here today so if it ain't melted yet it ain't gonna. I will check both. I can take it to the dealer to have the pressure checked. I am loathe to take anything to the dealer due to the cost though. Thanks

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Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 AT 10:49 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

There are plenty of independent garages that will gladly do the work for less money than the dealer and guarnantee ther work as well. Alot of times it's better than a dealer anyhow as you deal usually directly with the mechanic and not a service writer.

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Thursday, June 24th, 2010 AT 7:24 PM