General Diagnostic Table: Inspection: Notes

DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE

Trouble

Possible cause

Corrective action

Heavy steering effort in all ranges
Heavy steering effort at stand still
Steering wheel surges when turning.

1. Pulley belt

Unequal length of pulley belts
Adhesion of oil and grease
Loose or damage of pulley belt
Poor uniformity of pulley belt cross section
Pulley belt touches to pulley bottom
Poor revolution of pulleys (except oil pump pulley)
Poor revolution of oil pump pulley

Adjust or replace.

2. Tire and wheel

Improper tires out of specification
Improper wheels out of specification
Tires not properly inflated ⁽¹⁾

Replace or reinflate.

3. Fluid

Low fluid level
Aeration
Dust mix
Deterioration of fluid
Poor warming-up of fluid ⁽²⁾

Refill, bleed air, replace or instruct the customer.

4. Idling speed

Lower idling speed
Excessive drop of idling speed at start or at turning steering wheel ⁽³⁾

Adjust or instruct the customer.

5. Measure hydraulic pressure. < Ref. to , INSPECTION , Oil Pump. >

Replace the problem parts.

6. Measure steering effort. < Ref. to , INSPECTION , General Diagnostic Table. >

Adjust or replace.

Vehicle leads to one side or the other.
Poor return of steering wheel to center
Steering wheel surges when turning.

1. Fluid line

Folded hose
Flattened pipe

Reform or replace.

2. Tire and wheel

Flat tire
Mix use of different tires
Mix use of different wheels
Abnormal wear of tire
Unbalance of remained grooves
Unbalance of tire pressure

Fix or replace.

3. Front alignment

Improper or unbalance caster
Improper or unbalance toe-in
Loose connection of suspension

Adjust or retighten.

4. Others

Damaged joint assembly
Unbalanced height
One-sided weight

Replace, adjust or instruct the customer.

5. Measure steering effort. < Ref. to , INSPECTION , General Diagnostic Table. >

Adjust or replace.

⁽¹⁾

If tires and/or wheels are wider, the load to power steering system is the more. Accordingly, in a condition, for example before fluid warms-up, relief valve may work before maximum turning angle. In this case, steering effort may be heavy. When measured hydraulic pressure is normal, there is no abnormal thing.

⁽²⁾	In cold weather, steering effort may be heavy due to increased flow resistance of cold fluid. After warming-up engine, turn steering wheel from stop to stop several times to warm-up fluid. Then if steering effort reduces normally, there is no abnormal thing.

⁽³⁾

In cold weather or with insufficient warm-up of engine, steering effort may be heavy due to excessive drop of idling when turning steering wheel. In this case, it is recommended to start the vehicle with increasing engine speed than usual. Then if steering effort reduces normally, there is no abnormal thing.