I inherited this car from my neice. Been sitting for 6 months.

Ihave moved it around the driveway a few times and the power steering is doing something weird. When you rotate the steering wheel....there is a rythmic feel of easy-hard-easy-hard (like a rythmic resistance).

This is with the car running and also up in the air with engine off

 

What the heck?

Of course my neice does not remember anything like this when she was driving it

 

Now......it came off the road because she tapped the front into a poland springs water truck(the driver NEVER even felt it)...but before you get all excited that this had something to do with it....the hit was not bad...bumper barely touched...radiator support pushed back 3"--- grill cracked but in tact.....headlite plastic broke of course

But no lower damage at all...so I dont see this being related

Fluid level is fine...

??

Also...does anyone have any free car fax reports they are not using and can run one for me?

thanks

After you rotate the steering wheel lock to lock a few times while parked, look inside the Steering fluid reservoir to see if there are bubbles in it. If there are, you likely have an air leak on the pump or the suction side of the system.

 

I don't know how it is set up on an impreza, but on my 03 Legacy Outback, there is a hose from the PS reservoir to the top of the PS pump. There are 2 o-rings inside that flattened out and lost their seal and caused air to get in the lines.

 

Just a thought.

I FOUND THE PROBLEM....!

 

touched the car in a while. Took it for a test drive,,,at end of driveway, upon entering roadway, went over driveway bump and heard a clunk sound. Drove and did some turns and was still acting as above. jacked it up and saw this,,,,,,is this what is called a sway bar link??? or stabilizer bar link?

 

THIS is why it was steering funny

 

what does something like this cost?? can i buy it at car quest? how to change it?? i suspect this sway bar is under tension....?

 

on the other hand....is this really my problem? what has this part got to do with the sterring feeling weird?

Edited August 27, 201114 yr by bgambino

I know someone knows what this is and how to replace it...!LOL

 

I will have to go under and look again to see if this could indeed affect the steering.

okay,,,so I will answer my own question...LOL

 

Its the sway bar end link

I'm told it can be had as an aftermarket part at a reasonable price

 

oI was also told just to lift wheels off ground to relieve the tension on the sway bar and replacement should be pretty easy

easy part to fix, but I will be VERY surprised if that cures the power steering issues.

had to torch the nuts to get it loose and off....did not have a replacement yet and still I took it for a test ride.....Steering back to normal!