I have a very weird problem. Every morning (or whenever I start my car), I have to struggle with my steering wheel for first 5 minutes. It just refuses to turn and kicks back hard. It does eventually give in gradually but not before make lound screeching noises. This makes getting out of my parking lot so much fun every morning - limiting my manueverablity and deafeing anyone within hearing distance. Interestingly, after first few minutes of struggle, the problem seems to disappear.

Any suggestions and insights here are greatly appreciated. I have 2000 SE with manual shift and have 70000 flawless miles to its credit.

 

not flawless anymore i guess. I have no idea, sounds like a steering pump or something in there.

 

Power steering dying? Next time you start your car from a cold start, have the hood popped open and see if all of your belts are running.

 

Most likely the power steering belt is slipping. Also, have you checked the power steering fluid? Sounds like the reservoir is empty and the pump is getting nothing but air... If it is empty, fill it up, and with the engine running and the car parked, turn the wheel all the way one way and back - repeat several times. Do this and recheck the power steering fluid.

Now the real question is - where did all of your fluid go? Sometimes the fluid gets really hot and boils/bubbles out of the reservoir. Other things to check are hoses (for leaks), and steering rack (for leaks). I still think that it may be your power steering belt - so see if it is slipping.

 

Yep, pretty much what I said.

 

Check and Add fluid (aka:Tranny oil) to Power Steering fluid container.