Your vehicle's power steering system allows you to easily operate your vehicle, responding quickly and smoothly to changes in traffic conditions while on the road. However, like all parts of your car, age and general wear can result in a degradation in the system itself. If your power steering system is no longer working as it should, it can greatly increase the risk of a collision occurring. Thankfully, there are a couple of things that you can look out for to determine when you need to bring your vehicle in to an auto repair shop to have the power steering looked at.

Check the Fluid

While doing regular vehicle maintenance, it's a good idea to take a look at your power steering fluid. The reservoir is clearly marked and located under the hood, near the engine. Take the dipstick out and blot a small amount of the fluid onto a paper towel to check the color. Power steering fluid that is still in good condition will have a red or maroon color – if it has begun to take on a grey shade, you should head into a mechanic to have the fluid replaced.

Squealing

One of the earliest warning signs of a damaged or failing power steering system is noisy operation. While squealing can be caused by a wide number of different factors or issues with your vehicle, an increase in noise while moving your steering wheel, especially when turning, is a fairly clear warning sign that you should have your power steering system checked out at the very least.

Vibrations

If your steering wheel is vibrating during the normal operation of your vehicle, especially if the rest of the vehicle does not seem to be effected, your power steering system may be to blame. This is almost always caused by a failing power steering pump that provides an inadequate amount of fluid to the system while the vehicle is in operation: to test this out, idle your vehicle. If the steering wheel continues to vibrate violently, you should head to a mechanic immediately.

Difficulty Steering

Of course, this is the most obvious sign of a power steering system failure, but can't be left unsaid. If you notice a sudden increase in the difficulty that it takes to move your steering wheel, there is definitely something wrong with your power steering system. Sometimes it's as simple as replacing the fluid, but other times drive belts or fluid pumps have to be replaced, or leaks fixed – the bottom line is that the more difficult it is to move your steering wheel, the higher risk you are of experiencing a collision.

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