Loss of power steering

[ricklaugh]

Greetings to all!

I have a 2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 with about 135K miles.

I am experiencing intermittent loss of power steering. It usually happens when exiting off of an interstate highway. When I decelerate from 70 mph to 35 mph, it loses power steering. When I begin accelerating again, it usually comes back.

I have done the following:

1. Replace the harmonic balancer.
2. Reverse flush the power steering system and refill with new fluid. The independent mechanic states that the power steering pump appears to be working normally.
3. Replaced belts and hoses. The belt is not slipping.

The mechanic is stumped and has no idea why I would be experiencing this loss. He is unable to duplicate the problem.

Any ideas? I welcome your reply.

I posted an additional thread about the key not turning in the ignition. Not sure if it is related or not.

Many thanks!

[Byron007]

Honestly, I don't know I'm just guessing. Perhaps your power steering pump is bad? I changed the fluid at 98k on mine, I simply took of the return line and got 2/3rds out. I put in 24 OZ of Hyundai power steering fluid back in there. Cured the whine in the mornings. Old fluid looked disgusting, smelled it too. How does he know your power steering pump is fine?

[ricklaugh]

Thank you, Byron007. When the mechanic test drives the car, the power steering works normally. He is unable to duplicate the problem.

[ActionMan]

Well, it would seem to me that in order for the mechanic to duplicate the problem he would need to replicate the circumstances under which you experience the problem. Has he tested it while exiting the highway going from 70 to 35 MPH? I'm guessing as well, but it does sound like a bad steering pump as Byron007 has suggested.

[ricklaugh]

Yes, he replicated the circumstances, but could not duplicate the problem. It doesn't do it all of the time. Perhaps 10% of the time.

[error666]

You have a ghost in your car. Ignition, power steering...

[Byron007]

I've been in a semi where the power steering pump would fail while trying to back up and then start working. The mechanics thought I was lying and didn't want to fix because it worked fine for them. More than likely the pump.

[ricklaugh]

OK, picked up the car from JR's Automotive in Lexington, SC. Here is what he said.

Of course, the power steering was working fine when he test drove the car. However, he found these three codes in the computer:

C1612 (can timeout TCU)
C1611 (can timeout EMS)
C1260 (steering sensor abnormal)

(Note: I have no idea what any of these mean)

He cleared the codes and recalibrated the steering angle sensor. He then test drove the car with the scanner and none of the codes reset.

So, if I lose power steering again, I will take it back and he will scan for new codes. Then we will proceed accordingly.

Also, he says the harmonic balancer, belt, p/s pump, and fluid all look good.

All of this for $79.00. That seems like a bargain to me! Very pleased.

So, praying that this fixed it. Time will tell. I will update if anything new develops.

Thanks!

[Sequoiasoon]

There was a post somewhere with either a TSB or some related from SBR711 that mentioned a filter screen in the power steering reservoir iirc. Needs to be taken out/cleaned or replaced.

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted by Sequoiasoon

There was a post somewhere with either a TSB or some related from SBR711 that mentioned a filter screen in the power steering reservoir iirc. Needs to be taken out/cleaned or replaced.

This is what I was going to point out, too.

On my Sonata, I was experiencing the same problem as the OP. My balancer pulley was fine, so I didn't replace it.

I replaced the belt, which I know the OP already tried. But, when I had the belt off, I noticed some buildup of gunk on some of the pulleys. I suspect this may have been making the belt slip. I cleaned it out of the grooves of the pulleys, replaced the belt and the problem hasn't returned.