WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2011 Subaru Tribeca. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Trouble

Possible cause

Corrective action

Steering effort is heavy in all ranges.
Steering effort is heavy at stand still.
Steering wheel vibrates when turning.

1. Pulley belt

Unequal length of pulley belts
Contact with oil or grease
Looseness or damage of the pulley belt
Poor uniformity of the pulley belt cross section
Pulley belt touches to pulley bottom
Poor revolution of pulleys (except oil pump pulley)
Poor revolution of oil pump pulley

Adjust or replace the faulty parts.

2. Tire and wheel

Improper tire out of specifications⁽¹⁾
Improper wheel out of specifications⁽¹⁾
Tires not properly inflated

Replace or reinflate the tire and wheel.
Instruct customers.

3. Fluid

Low fluid level
Air entry in fluid
Dust entry in fluid
Fluid deterioration
Inadequate warm up of fluid⁽²⁾

Refill the fluid, bleed air, replace or instruct customer.

4. Idle speed

Lower idle speed
Excessive drop of idle speed at start or when turning the steering wheel⁽³⁾

Adjust the idle speed or instruct customer.

5. Measure the hydraulic pressure. Refer to HYDRAULIC PRESSURE , INSPECTION, Oil Pump.

Replace the faulty parts.

6. Measure the steering wheel effort. Refer to MEASUREMENT OF STEERING EFFORT , INSPECTION, General Diagnostic Table.

Adjust the idle speed or replace the faulty parts.

7. Fluid line

Folded hose
Flattened pipe

Replace the faulty parts.

Vehicle leads to one side or the other.
Returning force of steering wheel to center is poor.
Steering wheel vibrates when turning.

Tire and wheel
- Flat tire
- Mixed use of different tires
- Mixed use of different wheels
- Abnormal wear of tire
- Unequal tread remaining
- Unequal pressure of tire

Adjust, repair or replace the tire and wheel.

2. Front alignment

Improper or unequal caster
Improper or unequal toe-in
Loose suspension connections

Adjust or retighten.

3. Others

Damaged joint assembly
Unbalance of ground clearance
Unbalance of load

Replace or adjust the faulty parts, or instruct customer.

4. Measure the steering wheel effort. Refer to MEASUREMENT OF STEERING EFFORT , INSPECTION, General Diagnostic Table.

Adjust or replace the faulty parts.

⁽¹⁾

If the tires or wheels are wider than standard, the load to the power steering system is increased. Accordingly, in a condition, for example before fluid warms-up, relief valve may work before reaching maximum turning angle. In this case, steering effort may be heavy. When the measured hydraulic pressure is normal, there is no abnormal thing.

⁽²⁾	In cold weather, flow resistance will increase due to the cold hydraulic fluid, and steering effort will be heavier. After warming-up engine, turn the steering wheel from stop to stop several times to warm up fluid. If steering effort reduces normally, function is normal.

⁽³⁾	In cold weather or with insufficient warm up of the engine, steering effort may be heavy due to excessive drop of idle RPM when turning the steering wheel. In this case, start the vehicle with increasing engine speed than usual. If steering effort reduces normally, function is normal.

Safety Warning

General Diagnostic Table: Inspection: Notes

Use the Manual With the Right Hardware

When to See a Mechanic