Well, yesterday in the snow i was sliding around trying to get home and i had to crank the wheel to not slide off the road and i heard a noise. Now my power steering doesn't work. It is the 2.4, so its electric. Any ideas???

All you would have to is jack up the front end to pop the tires off inspect youre tie rod ends & inspect power steering lines, Its quite possible snow just got packed into the rack & pinion arms, Or just salt & ice jammed something up. If you able to get the car into a heated area, You try deicing snow & ice off the steering area.


Good Luck.

May be a dumb question but check to see if you have run low on power steering fluid.

PSN ID: Phatchance249

I don't think there is any fluid to start with. It's an electrical actuator system.

Here is a link to defects, although they are on a Malibu

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Chevrolet/Malibu/2004/investigations.shtml


Alont

This fault was fixed with a new battery, so how is your charging system?


http://forums.hexus.net/archive/index.php/t-41146.html


Alont

This car is not electric power steering. It is normal power steering and has fluid. Sounds like aproblem with the rack.



FU Tuning

Steer by wire just came out for late 2006, and very few 2007 models. Not every manufacture is using it yet, Infiniti is and so is Nissan, but not on every car. It is more expensive that conventional systens, and I guarantee you your Cavalier doesnt have it.


You heard a noise, what kind of noise, loud snappping, cracking, did it happen just once. More info is needed there.


Is there fluid in the resivor?





- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

Ooops!

I believed the poster Jeff

So only Malibus have had the Electric power steering since 2004?


Alont

alont wrote:Ooops!

I believed the poster Jeff

So only Malibus have had the Electric power steering since 2004?


Alont

Well I stand corrected.

I used to work at GM dealership, and I cant even remember 04s have steer by wire. I know the new G6 do, the 06/07 do, but I dont remember Malibus having it




- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

Hi Jeff

follow this link, there is a recall on the steering for your car (If it's a '98 as per profile). You need to check whether this has been done--if it hasn't it should be free at the dealers.

The bearings in the pinion(The small gear of the "Rack and Pinion") were not properly secured by the locking tabs, the noise you heard MAY have been from the pinion displacing because of incorrect movement of the pinion.

http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/67-int/1998/chevrolet/cavalier/z-24/index.html



Alont

Here is a link to a similar steering problem with the diagnosis and the solution


http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=11&i=118011&t=118011



Alont