Jerky Power Steering

[chrisgi]

hi i have a 1994 rav4 with power steering recently especially in the cold weather the stering is very jerky for the first few yards then ok for the rest of the day

feels like 4 flat tyres plus sometime i very full lock a little bit of squeeling

fine at all other times

mechanic where io bought this car thinks that one of the problems might be the atf fluid is a bit thick and changing it will help

any ideas

thanks

[anchorman]

If the level is OK make sure the belt is tight. If that is OK then it could be one of the UJs in the steering column starting to sieze up. In this case if you turn from lock to lock it will feel stiff/easy, stiff/easy as you turn the wheel.

[bothwell_buyer]

as ancs says.

I have had a belt break on the steering pump.

On another car, it was the fluid that was leaking and I'd to keep topping up - but that was a Jaguar.

It sounds more like the fluid.

The sqealing is the belt slipping when you have full lock, as the pump is still trying to turn the steering further.. be easing off a fraction on the steering wheel, then it should stop - thats quite common and just maybe inicates the belt needs tightenend or changed at some point in the future/next service.

[oilman]

If the fluid has lost it's properties over time, that can cause the problem. It's hopefully a cheap fix