My girlfriend's 91 RS Automatic is having problems with the steering. I searched 10 pages of steering threads and found nothing.

From a cold start in a parked position, she can barely turn the steering wheel. Leaving a spot in the city, parallel parked, she needs to turn the wheel all the way to the right or left and she physically can't do it. Once the car is finally moving, the problem seems to fade away until she is back in a stopped position, attempting to parallel park or sharply turn.

I was able, from the passenger side, muscle it all the way over. This seems to be a random problem. Before I muscled it, she would pull the car up 1-2 ft and still couldn't turn it. The feeling makes my manual crx steering feel light as a feather to turn.

The tires have plenty of air, and the power steering fluid does not leak and is full.

I am only experienced with non power steering EFs/CRXs so I have no clue. Any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it. I've witnessed it too, when trying to parallel park, the steering wheel creates an enormous amount of resistance as if it had a flat tire up front. Almost as if the steering rack or column is fighting me with everything it has.

I realize it could be any number of things regarding steering/suspension, but I have no power steering experience and some answers would be great, thanks!

 

Could it be the steering pump? Should I post on a forum where people are interested in help instead of cosmetics?

 

power steering pump isn't working.

 

x2

 

Power steering pump is the first thing I would look at. 94