Today I got 70 miles from home and my 1999 maxima steering wheel wont turn all the way in either direction and Im going to have to limp it home. I noticed that the 2 hoses coming off of the reservoir have fluid on them and thinking that air might be getting into the system but could that cause the issue Im having? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Is the power steering reservoir full? If not, add some ATF, look for a leak.
Is the belt on the power steering pump?

If you have a major leak and need to drive it home, I would suggest cutting the belt off the PS pump. You'll burn it up running it without fluid which will make your wallet lighter in the end.

 

Yea the fluids full it doesn't appear to be a big leak Im thinking my 2 hoses have just gotten old and worn out. I let my car sit here for an hour and moved it I had full range with steering wheel but once I moved a few feet my steering started acting up again so thats why Im thinking airs getting in somewhere its kinda like is stopping me from going to far with the wheel then I turn it the other way and go back it'll act differently not always the same.

 

If I turn my wheel its choppy like somethings trying to fight me but it will keep turning just hard and slow. Ive never had a car do this before.

 

Sounds more like the belt is slipping on the pump.
If the fluid is full, your not sucking air and you don't have a leak.

 

K thats were Ill start is at the belt thanks for the help Ill go buy a new belt.

 

Go update I bought the belt today and had to get my tools from storage building and first thing tomorrow Ill put it on and bleed the ststem hoping it works Ill post the results thanks for the help already.

 

just remember to loosen the tensioner on the power steering pump you need to turn the bolt clockwise. its reverse threaded. the drive belt is threaded normal. so counterclockwise for the idle pulley. I changed my pump 4 times in 6 weeks.

 

Four times in 6 weeks? Don't tell me all of them were aftermarket pumps that didn't work..

 

a spare, and one aftermarket. I was trying to find out what was causing my squeaking and it was actually the crank pulley. the pulley had dry rot and it started to separate.


but during the many times I changed the pump I ended up causing my rack and pinion to fail. I replaced the pump on one very hot day. forgot to include the o ring on the pump and the fluid ran dry.

 

Yea tookncar apart idler bolt that goes down broke from just being rusted not a surprise there but my PS belt was half gone only 2 ribs were left so tomorrow Ill go get a new idler and finish putting it back together thanks for the help all.

 

rust sucks. I was helping a friend with changing his alternator and we broke the idle bolt. I think next time, try to see if you can use a wire brush on a wireless drill. that could help loosen the roast and get the bolt to thread through.