Hi! So all of last summer I drove my seven, and had a wierd steering issue the whole time, the steering wanders, so you can't drive in a straight line.. nomatter how stead you hold the wheel lol, but I just got used to compensating for it and drove it, this year I am detirmined to get it fixed, but that isnt what this post is about (might be related though)



So I got my 7 on the road yesterday, and I drove a few blocks, all of a sudden my power steering stopped working, and my car was beeping at me, seemed like a consistant beep, I turned the car off, then on again and my power steering was fine, I drove home, and then on the last turn to my house, same thing power steering stopped, and I got the beeping (Im glad I drove a 89 civic beater with NO power steering all winter lawl), so anywho I drove the car home and turned it off.



Also my speedometer wasn't working, so when I got home I took my gauge cluster off and discovered that my speedo cable fell out so I got that fixed easily.



So is there anyone who knows why power steering would just (what apears to be) randomly die while driving? Thanks for any insight!

well if you cant go straight then the rack and pinion might need to be replaced also check your tie rod ends see if they check out good if everything checks out good then you might need an alignment

the steering needs the speedo signal too! otherwise it assumes you're going 100,000miles an hour and beeps at you

idk if i would wanna go 100000 mph thats a little to fast for me i mean i like speed but not that much lol

well like I said I took the gauge cluster apart and reattached the speedo cable that somehow fell out -- problem fixed.



anyways, I remember one two occasions last summer driving the 7, I had the PS fail, and the beeping, and my speedo cable was fine on both those occasions. where should I start? replace the power steering pump? replace the power steering "rack and piston"? (sorry I am a complete noob with steering and suspension parts). Thanks!

its pinion not piston well first of all when you sit in the car is there play in the steering wheel?

you mean when I am in the car and the key is not in the on position? Yes, theres a bit of play.

is it subtle or is it obvious ?

mm after driving a winter car with no power steering all winter, its obvious lol.

would you say it turns more then 3 minutes if you think of it as a clocks face

oh ya, the free play is a good inch both ways

you might have to replace the rack and pinion. do you know how to check to see if your tie rods are good?

no.. but my dads a alignment mechanic (well majority of his work are alignments lol), so were going to get the car in the shop hopefully soon and he'll take a look.. I am just trying to figure stuff in advance to hopefully make work on the car easier.



do you got any ideas about the power steering failing?

the PS on these cars is the first system to vary the power assist. so there are several "weird" parts to the system.



the control unit, looks at vehicle speed, steering angle, AND speed, rpm and a couple of other things to decide on how much steering assist to give you.



if it does not get one of these inputs, it has a fail safe, like with the speed signal, it assumes you are going really fast, and gives you very little assist.



it will also beep. the series of beeps tells you what the fault is.



if you search for the shop manual, its online, and the electrical portion of the steering is in section 15.

inner tie rods and/or rack and pinion for your play and you unable to go straight

last night i was messing around in the rain and bounced on the revlimiter for less than a second in 3rd gear and my p/s went away. i just drove it home and when i investigated in the morning there was plenty of fluid and no leaks and it worked fine. Mine didnt beep or buzz though, except the normal revlimiter buzz.

maybe your car didnt like it so its like until you turn me off you dont get p/s

hahah maybe. i felt bad after i hit the limiter... i said i was sorry.

maybe you hurt her feelings