Symptom | Probable cause | Remedy |
Steering wheel return malfunction | Incorrect tire pressure | Adjust the tire pressure |
Steering operation is "hard" | Incorrect tire pressure Loose belt Damaged belt Low fluid level Air in fluid line | Adjust the tire pressure Adjust the belt tension Replace the belt Refill fluid Bleed air |
Steering wheel pulls to one side | Twisted hose Incorrect mounting of the steering gear box on the crossmembe Fluid leakage Incorrect wheel alignment (especially caster) Malfunction of gear box Malfunction of oil pump Excessive steering wheel play Insufficient tire inflation pressure Unevenly worn or deformed tire Dragging brake Deteriorated or broken front spring Deformed knuckle arm Poor wheel alignment Damaged wheel bearing Deformed or loose lower arm Loose linkage joints Malfunction of ball joints (Too small ball joint starting torque) Deteriorated or broken lower arm bushing Incorrect installation of internal damage to gear Malfunction of shock absorber | Correct the hose routing or replace the hoses Retighten Check the fluid leakage and retighten or replace Adjust the wheel alignment Check and replace the gear box if necessary Check the oil pump pressure and repair oil pump Adjust the steering wheel play Adjust the tire pressure Rotate the wheel or replace the tire Adjust Replace Replace Adjust the wheel alignment Replace Retighten or replace Retighten Replace Replace Correct or replace Replace |
Steering wheel vibrates | Insufficient tire inflation pressure Unevenly worn or deformed tire(s) Loose hub nut Excessive runout, or unbalance of tire and wheel Poor wheel alignment Damaged wheel bearing Deformed or loose lower arm Deformed linkage Loose linkage joints Malfunction of ball joints (Too small ball joint starting torque) Malfunction of front suspension Incorrect installation or internal damage in gear box Malfunctioning of shock absorber | Adjust the tire pressure Rotate the wheels or replace the tire(s) Retighten Adjust the wheel balance or replace Adjust the wheel alignment Replace Retighten or replace Repair or replace Retighten Replace Check and adjust; replace the parts if necessary Correct or replace Replace |
Road shock is felt in steering wheel | Insufficient steering wheel play Insufficient tire inflation pressure Unevenly worn or deformed tire(s) Malfunction of shock absorber | Adjust the steering wheel play Adjust the tire pressure Rotate the wheels or replace the tire(s) Replace |
Poor recovery of steering wheel to straight ahead position | Insufficient tire inflation pressure Stuck or damaged ball joint Improper wheel alignment angles | Adjust the tire pressure Replace Adjust the wheel alignment |
Rattling noise | Loose installation of oil pump or gear box Steering linkage looseness or play Loose oil pump pulley nut Interference around column or between pressure hose and other parts Abnormal noise inside the gear box and oil pump | Retighten the oil pump and gear box Retighten or replace the steering linkage Retighten the oil pump pulley nut Correct or replace the pressure hose and the parts around the column Replace the gear box or oil pump |
Strident noise | Air sucked into oil pump Seizure inside oil pump | Check the oil level and hose clips; bleed the system or replace the oil pump Replace the oil pump |
Squealing noise 1) | Loose belt Seizure inside oil pump | Adjust the belt tension Replace the oil pump |
Hissing noise | Air sucked into oil pump Damage to the gear box port section Malfunction of return hose | Check the oil level and hose clips; bleed the system Replace the gear box Replace the hose |
Whistling noise | Malfunction of gear box port section | Replace the gear box |
Droning noise | Loose mounting bolt on oil pump or oil pump bracket Poor condition of oil pump body 2) | Retighten the pump bracket and pump installing bolt Replace the oil pump |
Squeaking noise 2) | Malfunction of steering stopper contact Interference of wheel with vehicle body Interference of steering shaft and joint assembly with other parts Malfunction of gear box | Check and adjust the steering stopper Adjust the steering angle Reposition the interfering parts Replace the gear box |
Shuddering vibration 3) | Air suction Malfunction of gear box | Bleed the system Replace the gear box |
Oil leakage from hose connection | Improperly tightened flare nut Incorrectly inserted hose Improperly clamped hose | Check, repair or replace |
Oil leakage from hose assembly | Damaged or clogged hose Hose connector malfunction | Replace |
Oil leakage from oil reservoir | Leaking reservoir Overflow | Replace Bleed the system or adjust the oil level |
Oil leakage from oil pump | Malfunction of oil pump housing Malfunction of O-ring and/or oil seal | Replace the oil pump Replace the O-ring and oil seal |
Oil leakage from gear box | Malfunction of gear box housing (including leakage from air hole) Malfunction of O-ring and/or oil seal | Replace the gear box Replace the O-ring and oil seal |
A squealing noise may be heard just after very cold engine start (-20° or less), caused by fluid characteristics at extreme low temperatures. Thisis not a malfunction.
A slight "beat noise" is produced by the oil pump; this is not a malfunction. (This noise occurs particularly when a stationary steeringeffort is made.)
A slight vibration may be felt when a stationary steering effort is made due to the condition of the road surface. To check whether the vibration actually exists or not, test-drive the vehicle on a dry concrete or asphaltsurface. A very slight amount of vibration is not a malfunction.
