P/S System Symptom Diagnosis
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara, and 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
POSSIBLE CAUSE
| Condition | Possible Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Steering wheel feels heavy (at low speed) | Fluid deteriorated, low viscosity, different type of fluid mixed | Replace fluid . |
| Pipes or hoses deformed, air entering through joint | Replace defective part . | |
| Insufficient air purging from P/S circuit | Purge air . | |
| P/S belt worn, lacking in tension | Adjust belt tension or replace belt as necessary . | |
| Tire inflation pressure excessively low | Inflate tire . | |
| Front end alignment out of order | Check and adjust front end alignment . | |
| Steering wheel installed improperly (twisted) | Install steering wheel correctly . | |
| Bind in tie-rod or tie-rod end ball joint | Replace defective part . | |
| P/S pump hydraulic pressure fails to increase | Check pressure and repair or replace defective part . | |
| P/S pump hydraulic pressure increases but slowly | Check pressure and repair or replace defective part . | |
| Steering gear case malfunction | Replace gear case . | |
| Steering wheel feels heavy momentarily when turning it to the left or right | Air drawn in due to insufficient amount of fluid | Add fluid and purge air . |
| Slipping P/S belt | Adjust belt tension or replace belt as necessary . | |
| P/S pump hydraulic pressure fails to increase | Check pressure and repair or replace defective part . | |
| P/S pump hydraulic pressure increases but slowly | Check pressure and repair or replace defective part . | |
| Steering gear case malfunction | Replace gear case . | |
| Poor recovery from turns | Deformed pipes or hoses | Replace defective part . |
| Steering column installed improperly | Install steering column correctly . | |
| Front end alignment out of order | Check and adjust front end alignment . | |
| Ball joints binding | Replace defective part . | |
| P/S pump hydraulic pressure fails to increase | Check pressure and repair or replace defective part . | |
| P/S pump hydraulic pressure increases but slowly | Check pressure and repair or replace defective part . | |
| Steering gear case malfunction | Replace gear case . | |
| Vehicle pulls to one side during straight driving | Mismatched or uneven tire | Replace tire . |
| Low or uneven tire inflation pressure | Inflate tires to proper pressure or adjust right and left tires inflation pressure . | |
| Brake dragging in one wheel | Repair . | |
| Front end alignment out of order | Check and adjust front end alignment . | |
| Rear end alignment out of order | Check and adjust rear end alignment . | |
| Malfunction of control valve in gear case | Replace gear case . | |
| Steering wheel play is large and vehicle wanders | Refer to STEERING SYMPTOM DIAGNOSIS . | |
| Fluid leakage | Loose joints of (hydraulic pressure) pipes and hoses | Retighten . |
| Deformed or damaged pipes or hoses | Replace defective part . | |
| Abnormal noise | Air drawn in due to insufficient amount of fluid | Add fluid and purge air . |
| Air mixed into fluid from pipes or hoses | Replace pipes or hoses . | |
| Slipping (loose) P/S belt | Adjust belt tension . | |
| Worn P/S belt | Replace belt . | |
| Loose gear case fastening bolt | Retighten bolts . | |
| Loose linkage or joints | Retighten . | |
| Pipes or hoses in contact with part of vehicle body | Install pipes and hoses correctly . | |
| Vanes of P/S pump defective | Replace defective part . | |
| Malfunction of control valve in gear case | Replace gear case . | |
| Bearing of P/S pump shaft defective | Replace bearing . | |
| No idle up | Power steering pressure switch defective | Replace power steering pressure switch . |