Power Steering Dashboard Indicator

Power Steering Dashboard Light

The power steering light on your dashboard warns you that the power steering system is failing.

Auto manufacturers have been using power steering for nearly 2-3 decades now. There are two types of power steering systems.

1. Hydraulic Power Steering - This system use a hydraulic pump to support the steering mechanism which involves much expensive and troublesome parts. Drawbacks in this system evolved in bringing the electronic power steering system.

2. Electronic Power Steering - Almost all modern cars have electronic power steering systems. This system uses an electronic motor to assist the steering mechanism. This technology is less troublesome compared to the hydraulic power steering and easy to maintain.

Depending on the type of power steering system you have, you will either get a symbol of a steering wheel in hydraulic systems or a symbol with the word ËPS in electronic systems. What ever the symbol, it warns that your power steering system is failing and need inspection. The light would be either red or yellow.

Hydraulic Power Steering

Most common cause for the power steering light to come up is running low on power steering fluids. In this case, you should stop the car, open hood and check for the reservoir for the fluid levels. If low, top up with the recommended spec fluids and the light should go away. Although the fluids levels can go down, leaks become common with time. Therefore, if the fluid levels keep on lowering you need to inspect the system by a professional mechanic and get any repairs done. Until you attend the problem, the car won't have power steering and would be very difficult to turn the steering wheel. So you need to have extra care when steering the car without power steering.

Electronic Power Steering.

Electronic power steering system doesn't involve fluids. Therefore, topping up fluids is not a solution for cars with electronic power steering systems. Sometime restarting the car would turn off the power steering light. But it doesn't turn off, you need to take the car to a mechanic to attend the problem.

Is it safe to drive with the power steering light on?

No, without power steering, maneuvering the car would be really difficult. Although you won't feel much different on higher speeds, you will feel the weight of the car at a complete stop. Therefore you must pay extra attention and be cautious when driving a car without power steering. Otherwise lack of power steering will cause vehicle collisions.