Weird steering question about my '09 Accent...

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike) 08/27/2019 at 13:23 • Filed to: Steering

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Precursor explanation:

When I leave the house, I have about 300 meters of driveway/road to go through to get to the main road. I often roll out this entire distance with the engine off and the car in neutral because it’s all slightly downhill and it saves me wasting the gas where the engine would be idling the entire way out anyway. I’m used to knowing how heavy the power steering feels when doing this when the car isn’t running.

...lately, when doing this, it feels even heavier than usual. It COULD just be me, but I don’t THINK so? I’ve checked the tire pressure on both front tires and they were only down by 1 PSI or so from the 32PSI they are supposed to be at, and it felt the same after topping them back up to 32PSI as well. The power steering fluid hasn’t been flushed in awhile, but it’s properly filled and not low, so I don’t think that’s it..?

When the car is running and I am driving normally, everything feels fine, but I still feel like it seems a tad heavier/squishier than usual. Not scarily or uncontrollably so or anything of that sort, just in a ‘Huh, that doesn’t feel quite how I remember...?” type of way.

Anybody know any reason why it might seem a bit heavier than usual?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/27/2019 at 13:38

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What car is this? If you have electronic power steering, rolling and steering with the car off is kind of horrible for the motors in many vehicles.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 08/27/2019 at 13:41

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Oh, sorry - hydraulic power steering - 2009 Hyundai Accent ha tc hback.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/27/2019 at 13:51

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your arms turned into puny little noodles over night?

have you been taking your vitamins?

(yeah i gots nothing)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 08/27/2019 at 13:52

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Well, I’ve been biking for the first time in years that takes it out of me for awhile afterward as I haven’t done it in so long and am out of shape....but unless that’s temporarily somehow making my arms weaker, lol....

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/27/2019 at 13:55

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I can’t say why but that doesn’t sound good for your car. You are still having to turn all that fluid and shit to get the wheels to turn and 300 meters seems like a good distance to allow your car to warm up a bit before taking it out onto a road.

From Google: This is not too hard to do if it is a small lighter vehicle say something like a Chevrolet Cavalier but on the bigger vehicles it is not easy for a strong person. Another consideration on a Ford is if you turn the steering wheel without the vehicle running you will force power steering fluid out of the system and introduce air into the system. It will then take new fluid and time to remove the air and to not have noisy power steering. One last thing is Hondas take a Honda compatible fluid .

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/27/2019 at 13:55

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oh man... sometimes after a good bike ride i can barely lift my arms

but thats mostly coz i have a little bmx track nearby and when my arms start to hurt i do 30 more laps.......then limp home

its probably not that lol

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/27/2019 at 13:59

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Maybe ball joints or some other pivoting joint in the steering getting fouled and requiring more force to turn? 

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 08/27/2019 at 14:00

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Not that ball joints ‘turn’ and I know a worn tie rod end would make steering looser. Maybe food not circulating allowing for lubrication as well? 

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/27/2019 at 14:10

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Wait, those are hydraulic? Neat! I figured they went EPS around the same time as the Elantra.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 08/27/2019 at 14:11

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As far as I know! I mean....there’s a power steering reservoir in the engine compartment, so...

:P

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/27/2019 at 14:19

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Google confirmed, lol. I was just surprised to learn that it wasn’t EPS! I think the 4th gen Elantra (like 2007-2010?) was the first time they did EPS. There were a number of problems with it, including some recalls.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/27/2019 at 14:45

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People have been looping their power steering for ages, I can’t imagine turning the rack without spinning the pump would be any more damaging than regular use and abuse, unless there is a vehicle specific reason. I would be happy to learn otherwise 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 08/27/2019 at 14:48

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Huh, didn’t know that! Thought it didn’t start until more like 2012!

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/27/2019 at 14:52

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Nope, the fourth (HD) generation had EPS, at least in 2010. I know because mine was recalled due to a not at all low chance of EPS turning off mid corner, making for some... interesting challenges to unprepared drivers. I never had that happen to me, though, because I pulled the fuse for EPS because... real men have manual steering, or something? I dunno.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 08/27/2019 at 15:04

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I wish car talk was still on the radio, this is an ideal car talk question.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/27/2019 at 16:10

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Actually there’s a TSB for that. The strut mounts wear and get tight over time. To the point where the pump and rack are working extra hard. To the point where the pump and rack are usually damaged internally. Hyundai was putting new struts, pumps, and racks in under warranty, and flushing the lines to get metallic debris out and prevent damaging the new components.

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Nah I’m playing I don’t know anything about Hyundai s! My suggestion would be to compare it to another similar car, and/or have an experienced Hyundai tech drive it and inspect it to see if he thinks it's normal or not.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/27/2019 at 16:40

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Agreed, this is not something as simple as ‘looking it up’. Consumer Reports and Grassroots Motorsports often disagree 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 08/27/2019 at 18:44

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Was going to say, I’ve checked the TSBs in the past and never saw that one! :P

The on ly one I remember seeing is something about a sometimes-faulty brake light/stop lamp switch...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 08/27/2019 at 18:56

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Maybe, but it doesn’t seem to be getting fouled...? Still smooth when I turn it and the like, it just seems SLIGHTLY heavier to turn that I remember...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/27/2019 at 18:56

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Hmmm, maybe I’ll have to change that behaviour...I’ve done it for years now (in the spring, summer and fall months, not winter) and it doesn’t seem to have caused any issues so far unless this is one of them!