Power steering issues?

[IndianaTravis]

Okay, bear with me on this one.

Last fall, I took the ti (which I've owned since October of '05) to an autocross. My buddy and I co-drove the car. I noticed that after each run, there was a LOT of noise coming from the power steering. The noise would go away after the car sat between runs, but be back at the end of the next run. I didn't think a lot about it, to be honest.

Driving home from that event, and ever since, I've had this nagging feeling that something isn't quite right with the power steering. First, I thought that the steering wheel was not exactly centered. I've also noticed that it feels as thought the steering is very 'slow' at low speeds, but feels normal on the highway (although there could be a bit more play on center than before.)

None of this is significant enough that I think I would even notice it if I had not driven a ti (or BMW) before, but something seems a little...off.

I checked the power steering fluid, it is at the bottom mark of the pyramid shaped dipstick on the cap.

Any ideas?

(My car is a 1996 with 107,000 miles)

[pdxmotorhead]

First thing to do is service it.
New fluid and replace the tank its also the filter.

I bought Synthetic PS fluid the last time I did mine, seemed to really help
the feel.

Dave

[IndianaTravis]

good idea. I'll go off to find a DIY instruction and report back in a week or two!

[Tyler]

You should only put ATF (automatic transmission fluid) fluid in the power steering fluid,it does not take regular fluid. I use Mobil 1 dexron 3 or something like that.

If it's at the bottom of the mark you need to fill it up to the top of the 2nd groove and that should cure your problem. You may have a slow leak in one of your lines so jack it up and take a peak at it.

[aceyx]

Take a look at the steering knuckle (kind of like a universal joint). If you're running it hard and that far North, it could have worn down as well.

Part runs about $150, pretty easy to replace.

[Panzer_M]

I got leaks to deal with, but I keep putting them off.

[IndianaTravis]

thanks for the follow ups, guys. I'll take a good look at it this weekend in the garage.

(it is finally going to be winter up here...)

[3DGE]

Ok so I had my car checked out, they said I need new hoses for the power steering, what more should I replace just to be safe. Also the hoses are so small...but not cheap, GAH!