steering pump or rack?

[Jakegday]

Hello all. I started having an issue with my power steering a couple days ago. During regular driving, like turning corners and such, everything is fine. When you go to turn the steering wheel ALL the way to the left, or right, like say when your trying to maneuver in a parking lot, it becomes very tough to steer towards the end (by "end" i mean the point where the steering wheel no longer turns). Its like i dont have power steering when the wheel is turned all the way, to either the right or left. Is it possible for a pump to work perfectly fine through regular turns, but cause problems during sharp turns? Or is my steering rack most likely bad?
This is on a 2001 grand prix

 

[yonyon]

It's entirely possible the pump is the problem. You need more power assist to turn the wheel farther or to turn it just as far at a higher travel speed.

 

[Trav]

Check the belt tension, there are marks on the tensioner. When its on the last mark the belt is stretched and needs to be replaced.
Is it colder than usual? Consider flushing the fluid and adding 4oz of lubeguard PS additive.

 

[bvance554]

^^ Check the belt.

 

[KB2008X]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Check the belt tension, there are marks on the tensioner. When its on the last mark the belt is stretched and needs to be replaced.
Is it colder than usual? Consider flushing the fluid and adding 4oz of lubeguard PS additive.


This is great advice.
Check your belt & replace if needed.
Drain and refill the PS fluid.

I'm sure you've already done this but, if not, check the PS fluid level.

 

[heyu]

I would further research your VIN number for any recalls

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2001/pontiac/grand_prix/recalls/

I just bought a GM Lumina that is 16 yrs old and GM installed a brand new rack and pinion at their cost a few months ago because it had a recall

 

[NHGUY]

Originally Posted By: heyu
I would further research your VIN number for any recalls

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2001/pontiac/grand_prix/recalls/

I just bought a GM Lumina that is 16 yrs old and GM installed a brand new rack and pinion at their cost a few months ago because it had a recall



Never heard of a recall on a 16 year old car.I thought there was a statute of limitations on that.Heck,GM stalled long enough on the horrid X cars that the feds ran out of time to further order recalls on them.

 

[heyu]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Originally Posted By: heyu
I would further research your VIN number for any recalls

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2001/pontiac/grand_prix/recalls/

I just bought a GM Lumina that is 16 yrs old and GM installed a brand new rack and pinion at their cost a few months ago because it had a recall



Never heard of a recall on a 16 year old car.I thought there was a statute of limitations on that.Heck,GM stalled long enough on the horrid X cars that the feds ran out of time to further order recalls on them.


It is so funny how people on this site never heard of this and that when they themselves don't have he slightest idea what they are talking about
WHAT I SAID IS TRUE and it's too bad your thought of statue of limitations was wrong cause like i said they installed a brand new rack and pinion at their cost for my 16 yr old car

 

[Jakegday]

Thank you for the input guys. Im assuming that if the belt was causing this, it would be because it is slipping? Just wondering, because the belt is definitely not slipping through any of this. I just replaced the pump in may, so thankfully its still under warranty. Now i just need some nice weather

 

[KB2008X]

Yes if the belt was slipping due to being worn or the tensioner being weak or a foreign substance on the belt. You say the belt is not slipping, why do you say that ?

What kind of fluid did you add to the PS system when you replaced the PS pump ?

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: Jakegday
Thank you for the input guys. Im assuming that if the belt was causing this, it would be because it is slipping? Just wondering, because the belt is definitely not slipping through any of this. I just replaced the pump in may, so thankfully its still under warranty. Now i just need some nice weather


Now we get the whole story. If it was a rebuilt its probably junk. What was wrong with the original pump?
Did you change the belt when you did the pump?

 

[Silverado12]

Is it worse when the car is cold? I had a rack go bad in an old Cavalier and it was worse when cold.