Steering is stiff at slow speeds but not all the time

TWOCARS

MEMBER
1996 JAGUAR XJ6
4.0L
6 CYL
RWD
AUTOMATIC
114,000 MILES

The car runs fine in almost every way, except the power steering is very stiff; for example, backing out of a garage and turning around; taking a turn from a stop sign. The steering is fine once the vehicle is moving faster than 10 mph. Another thing I noticed is if I put the car in neutral and give it some gas the steering is fine. In cold sub zero weather, sometimes the power steering works fine one minute, then goes back to stiff. It's very inconsistent. I did have a mechanic rebuild a part about a year ago but it didn't fix the problem. Any ideas? Thanks.

3 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,742 POSTS

Typically that is caused by a weak power steering pump. Intermittent loss of power steering assist is most commonly caused by internal leakage inside the rack and pinion steering gear, but the symptoms will be different. You'll see a loss of assist in only one direction first, and it will usually return after a few minutes when the engine and power steering fluid warm up. Loss of assist will occur when turning the other way weeks or months later. The big clues here are it affects turning each way differently, and engine speed is not a factor.

When the pump is weak, due to worn vanes on the impeller that pushes the fluid, loss of power assist will always occur equally in both directions, and if it returns, it's when you raise engine speed. Fluid temperature doesn't really affect when the power assist returns.

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Thursday, November 28th, 2013 AT 1:14 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,895 POSTS

If the pump is not the problem I have seen where the steering control module would intermittently fail. Here is the steering control module wiring and location

Please let us know what you find.

Cheers, Ken

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