Stanley Auto Group

Reasons Your Steering Wheel May Be Hard-to-Turn

View of woman driving a Ford Vehicle

What Causes a Hard-to-Turn Steering Wheel?

While there are a lot of different systems working in your vehicle, you tend to only have a few ways to interact with them. When you’re driving, you really only use your steering wheel and pedals in order to tell your car what to do, so it can be pretty jarring when your wheel refuses to turn. If you’re having issues with your power steering, we can help you today at one of our Stanley Auto Group Texas locations.

Can I Drive with a Hard-to-Turn Steering Wheel?

If your steering wheel is giving you problems, then you won’t want to put off the repair. It’s a sign that something is seriously wrong with your model, and if you don’t treat it, then it may not even be safe to drive your vehicle in the first place.

  • The Issue Likely Won’t Go Away on Its Own: There’s no guarantee that your steering wheel is going to get better the next time that you hop behind the wheel. Like most untreated problems, it’s likely only going to get worse over time.
  • It Can Be Dangerous: If you try to take a turn and you aren’t able to turn your wheel, you could end up veering into another lane or even into another car. When your wheel is hard to turn, your car isn’t going to offer you nearly the same degree of handling that you might be used to.

What Can Make My Wheel Harder to Turn?

There are a lot of different things that could be affecting your wheel, including:

  • Low-Pressure Steering Fluid: If the fluid level for your power steering drops too low, then it isn’t going to be able to do its job.
  • A Worn Steering System: Your steering system utilizes a lot of different components in order to run correctly, but over time, they may start to give out. Our mechanics can replace worn tie rods, struts, and any other parts that may be causing issues.
  • A Failing Belt: Belts run throughout your model in order to deliver power to your vehicle’s system. So, when they start to wear away, it’s natural that some systems might begin to fail.
  • A Problem with Wiring: Your problem could have something to do with your electrical system. Our team will be able to take a closer look at your wiring once you arrive.
  • A Bad Steering Pump: This pump’s job is to pressurize your power steering fluid, so when it goes out, your wheel is going to immediately have issues.

How Do I Fix It?

Your power steering system is complicated, and it’s directly connected to your handling, so it probably isn’t something that you’ll want to try to repair at home. We have Stanley Auto Group locations throughout Texas that are staffed by reliable, knowledgeable mechanics. They’ll be able to figure out the root cause of your issue when you visit, and from there, they can give you a game plan moving forward. While it’s never fun to bring your model in for repairs, your steering wheel is directly connected to your safety on the road, so it’s important to make sure that it’s reliable.

If your steering wheel is giving you issues, you can visit one of our Stanley Auto Group service locations.