Power steering?

Tiny
KENDEN3125
  • MEMBER
  • 2026 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 3.5L
  • VR6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
Pushing fluid out the reservoir cap when I cut the car off from being hot or warm everyday when I start the car it turns smoothly hear no noises drive 2 mi down the road and if I try to turn the wheel it will whine and when I cut the car off it will push my fluid or some of the fluid out through the reservoir cap cut it off for 5 minutes it's right back to smooth turning no noise. Drive couple miles down the road same thing you hear whining noises when you try to turn it gets hard to turn cut the car off and it tries to push the power steering fluid back out through the reservoir no visible leaks under the car or from my lines no visible leaks around the reservoir just pushing it out the cap.
Saturday, September 27th, 2025 AT 9:13 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
KRAKENAUTO
  • MECHANIC
  • 69 POSTS
Being this vehicle is new, it needs to go back to the dealer as it would still be under warranty. However, the power steering system seems to be under severe pressure from what you described. Their could be air in the system, fluid overheating or even the pump going bad. Continuing to drive it like this may damage the seals or the pump.
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Saturday, September 27th, 2025 AT 9:22 PM
Tiny
KENDEN3125
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Okay, it says I have a reply but there is nothing.
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Saturday, September 27th, 2025 AT 10:35 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
HMM, not sure on the reply. However, could you verify the year, and engine please. The last I knew they were still selling 2025s and they all came with smaller 4 cylinder engines not the 3.5. Judging by the miles I'm guessing it's an older version? If not and it is a 2026 then it goes back to the dealership so they can check the system for a fluid line blockage. From the description it sounds like a fluid control solenoid is having an issue and it's heating the fluid up in the pump. However they made many changes over the years so giving the correct info requires the correct vehicle info.
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Saturday, September 27th, 2025 AT 11:40 PM
Tiny
KENDEN3125
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
2006 Nissan Altima 3.5 se.
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Sunday, September 28th, 2025 AT 12:34 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
Okay, that helps. Did this suddenly happen or has it slowly gotten worse. The description still sounds like a blockage. Did you happen to run over anything or was any work done just prior to this? A damaged line or cooler could cause this. The pump keeps pushing fluid but it cannot get through the restriction and that generates heat and fluid expansion and it pushes out of the reservoir.
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Sunday, September 28th, 2025 AT 7:02 PM
Tiny
KENDEN3125
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Now that you mention it right before all of this did suddenly happen I had to go up a gravel driveway which had grooves on the sides and lump in the middle but as soon as I heard it barely touch my car I just stopped right there and walked the rest of the way up I didn't skid it through it or anything like that but now you've got me wondering if maybe a rock may have pushed into something I just don't know what so I just need to get under that car and see if I see anything that maybe has a rock lodged in it or a line smashed or something like that maybe. And yes the car was driving fine and then when I left that person's house it started making a whining noise when I made a turn about 2 mi down the street and ever since I've been trying to figure out what is going on because it's perfectly fine everyday except when you get about 2 mi down the road then it feels like you don't have any power steering and it makes a little bit of a whining noise when I try to turn and then if I cut the car off it pushes it back up through my reservoir which leaves me not knowing exactly how much fluid I do have in there because it's not draining back down.
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Sunday, September 28th, 2025 AT 8:31 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
The cooler line is mounted up front on the lower side of the frame so it is very possible that it was damaged enough that the fluid is blocked from returning. Get the front up in the air some and just follow the line, it shouldn't be hard to see any damage. I wouldn't even run the engine as it could damage the pump and cost more money. If the line is damaged you can bypass it as that is the return line that runs at low pressure so some rubber "fuel injection" or "transmission cooler" line and hose clamps will work.
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Monday, September 29th, 2025 AT 10:41 AM

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