this sucks...this really really sucks. my power steering is starting to go out on me. i think it's from when i got stuck in the snow during that crazy snow storm last week. i kept turning left and right to get out and i may have overworked the motor? when i turn the wheel in neutral, it's super stiff. but if i rev up the car a little bit, the steering frees up. it's gotten soo bad that when i'm making a turn and have no gas the steering almost feels like it's locking up. i have to tap the gas through turns. any ideas ? i think it's the motor. has anyone had this problem? my p.s fluid is good and level. thnx in advance

 

ouch.... that must suck... just like when i used to have the mr2 with no steering power!!!!..... well my mom's minivan does the same thing, you have to give it gas in order to make the steering power to work... it could have been the motor.. but your car is new but my mom's has 100,000 miles on it! so i really don't know on that one.

 

so i called mitsu (since no other parts store carries this) and they gave me a price on a power steering pump.......$740.XX BUCKS! gosh damn. looks like im driving without power steering for a good while. FYI don't over work your power steering pump, or just dont get stuck in snow!

 

That sounds like a powersteering pump to me, But you want to be sure before you just go and change it, make sure the fluid level is good.

 

My MR2 didn't have Powere steering, or t-tops or cd player or anything cool. The only luxury it had was power windows and locks. NO A/C I was like WTF. But to the point The steering was realy light compared to many other cars with no powersteering, I was much more distraut over the Lack of A/C than the Lack of power steering. I put the turbo motor in myself it came with a 5s-fe.

 

I wonder if, in your play in the snow, you knocked the rack loose in its rubber mounts and the rack is moving instead of the wheels turning when you turn the steering wheel.

This car has speed sensitive steering. There's a valve in the pump that controls this that could stick and cause this problem.

 

thnx for your guys' replies. the fluid level is fine. but it smells like a*s! it's burnt to hell. i'm 99% sure it's the pump because of the fact that when i give the car gas the steering wheel frees up.

3sgtguru: i totally understand how you felt. I had a 92 civic hb with power NOTHING! no a/c no cd player. just two seats, a shell, and a b18. made for one fun car. the no power steering was fine for me.i coudln't even tell i didn't have it. but with the evo it's much much more noticable. i'm guessing the weight difference between the two. btw, how was the swap? my buddy has the n/a 92 mr2 and wants to do the swap. cost? thnx again for everyones responses

silva