james158485

When I tried to drive my car the steering wheel was very stiff and hard to turn. There were no warning lights, no check engine light, etc. I checked the power steering fluid and it was low enough that it didn't show up on the measuring stick. I refilled the fluid, started the car, and the steering wheel is still very hard to turn (maybe a little easier but not much).

Any ideas? How much steering fluid does the car require?

Thanks

Funkwagen

Might be a leak. See my thread here

Check to see if the same areas are leaking for you, if so, don't drive, you'll run the pump dry and have to replace it.

C300Sport

Have you checked under your car? If things have felt fine until now, you likely sprung a leak and drained your fluid....may be sloshing around on the belly pan...

james158485

Yeah there is fluid under there. I was wondering, if the pump isn't making that whining noise most people complain about is it probably okay? I would assume if it's leaking from a hose/fitting that the pump is working. Wouldn't it have to be pumping it to get to the leak?

I'm hoping it's only a leak and not something serious.

Funkwagen

It will be pumping, yes, however since the pump is pumping fluid at around ~1500psi, it'll lose fluid very quickly. When the pump doesn't get any fluid flowing through it, it'll heat up and eventually seize.

Best case scenario, you fix the leak and refill the steering system before the fluid level gets low enough that the pump runs dry and gets damaged

Worst case scenario, you keep driving with the leak, pump eventually runs dry and seizes.

I should mention that my pump was seized enough that the serpentine belt started to melt because of the friction.