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Hello all, it's been a whiles (Let me apologise for my lack of technical terms right now)

My Forester's power steering has been playing up lately, in that when approaching full lock the power steering (I assume) begins to squeal like a loose belt. The steering feels like it's kicking back in the opposite direction too.

Any help would be great!

Cheers,

I'm guessing that you've checked the usual things like loose belt and fluid levels? if so and they seem good, then I'm going to lean towards a airlock in the system. Make sure all the fittings are tight and not leaking. Also make sure the fluid is in good shape and is the correct type.

sounds like a loose belt. my mates 2001 lib just did the same thing.

time to pop the bonnet...

The fluid checks out, although I'm not sure how to tell if the belt is loose or not? Thanks for the help, I'll get out there to mess about once the rain stops.

Rosstoss wrote:The fluid checks out, although I'm not sure how to tell if the belt is loose or not? Thanks for the help, I'll get out there to mess about once the rain stops.

Use your finger or thumb to push on the belt. It shouldn't move any more than 5mm with some pressure applied. Tighten it up and the problem should not be there.

It is also good practise with powersteering not to go to full lock and hold it from what I was taught when learning to drive (on the road I might add when I had my L's).

Cheers

Bennie

El_Freddo wrote:Use your finger or thumb to push on the belt. It shouldn't move any more than 5mm with some pressure applied. Tighten it up and the problem should not be there.

It is also good practise with powersteering not to go to full lock and hold it from what I was taught when learning to drive (on the road I might add when I had my L's).

Cheers

Bennie

I thought 10mm was closer to the mark but my memory is not what it used to be so I didn't reply last night, 5mm seems a bit too tight to me, but it might be 5mm of deflection for a brand new belt and 10mm for a used one.