Hi,
Is anyone familiar with why the steering on a 1997 850 might suddenly feel as if the power steering is out? (We know that the traditional culprits would be a bad rack and pinion or power steering pump.)
The power steering pump works, it seems, and the fluid level meets the dipstick, but who knows, maybe more fluid can be put in. Maybe it could be that air got in the system...
Basically, the car's steering feels fine some days, but even during a drive the steering will turn ponderous, as if the power part of the steering kicks out.
For one, are there any scan codes that would come up if the rack and pinion was defective, or is this a purely mechanical component where you can't tell if it's broken without removing it? Is the rack and pinion on 850s a part that typically needed replacement, aside from the fact that this part is 13 years old? Could there be another reason, or is there a way to test for air (and bleed it?)
Thanks a lot.