Weird Power Steering Event

[Tom Rutledge]

I have a 2004 Discovery II that I bought about 6 months ago. It has approx 84,000 miles on it, no mods.

The other day I was turning off a rather busy street into a parking lot and it felt like my power steering quit working as I was making the turn. The best way I can explain it is that the steering became heavy and felt like what you might expect if the motor died (but the motor didn't die.) I kept turning and sort of man-handled it to complete the turn, at which time it smoothed out and behaved normally.

This happened one more time about half an hour later, with the same result. (Both times it was a right hand turn... not that that should matter.

Any thoughts on what this is, and what is likely in store repair-wise?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

 

[alzerom]

low fluid level

 

[Disco Mike]

Check your fluid level, look for p/s fluid leaking down onto the frame. Does the fluid smell burnt or look brown and when was the last time the fluid was changed?

 

[Tom Rutledge]

Thanks for the help. I recently had the oil changed at the dealer. (I wanted to have them look at it since I just bought the vehicle, and figured they'd do a thorough inspection.) I assume they would have checked the fluids, but nothing was mentioned at that time. They said everything looked really good, and found they had service records on my vehicle.

I don't see any leaking fluid and I don;t smell any burnt smells, etc. I will pull out the manuals and read about adding PS fluid myself and have them look at it next oil change.

Thanks again,

Tom

 

[Disco Mike]

You don't have to read a manual just to top of the p/s fluid. If it is low, buy a bottle of p/s fluid and poor it in to the reservor up to the full line.
It sounds like you may have more issues then fluid, if you want some help, send me you number and I'll call you.