power steering went out on my 2001 Tahoe

[brewtahoe]

I made a uturn and suddenly my powersteering went out!

Anyone have any suggestions?? Cuz I had one hell of a time trying to turn! Is there a fuse related to powersteering? or am I SOL!

My truck is still under warranty.. i wonder if it's still covered...

[nwoommavovah]

I have a 2002 Checy Tahoe and also made a quick u-turn. The steering is so hard to turn now.

[brewtahoe]

Originally Posted by nwoommavovah

I have a 2002 Checy Tahoe and also made a quick u-turn. The steering is so hard to turn now.

You should go bring it back to the dealership. I brought mine back, and my powersteering pump assembly had broken.

Your truck should still be covered under warranty, so bring it in to the dealership and get it checked.

[99ssconv]

you can take a screw driver and see if you can pry the p/s pump pulley away from the pump, if so then the pump shaft has sheared. common problem i've seen for a few years. replace the pump to repair

[keoni1978]

I have experienced the same problem in my 2002 tahoe z-71. But mine comes on and off. Most of the time it does it when I'm making a sweeping turn onto the freeway or getting off it and it does it when I'm going around 35mph or so but it varies. I have taken it to the dealership and mentioned it many times and they can't seem to fix the problem and most of the time they say the tech can't even dup the problem. What should I do about it? because most of the time when it happens, I'm making a turn and it makes it alsmost impossible to turn and I'm sure one day I'll end up hitting the wall because I can't turn the wheel!

[99ssconv]

keoni sounds like you might be having a problem with this part of your system is so equipped. not all have this option.

The Variable Effort Steering (VES) system controls the amount of steering effort needed to steer the vehicle as vehicle speed and steering wheel position and turning speed changes. The Body Control Module (BCM) or Electronic Suspension Control (ESC) module, vehicles equipped with Real Time Damping (RTD), controls an electronic Variable Orifice (EVO) solenoid located in the power steering pump's output fluid orifice. The solenoid consists of a pintle valve which moves in and out of the orifice, regulating power steering fluid flow. The BCM/ESC module varies the amount of steering effort by commanding more or less current to the solenoid. At low speeds, no current is commanded and the pintle is fully retracted which provides maximum fluid flow and maximum steering assist for easy turning and parking maneuvers. At high speeds, more current is commanded to the solenoid and the pintle moves closer to the orifice, decreasing fluid flow, providing firmer steering (road feel) and directional stability. The VES system uses the Steering Wheel Position sensor input to calculate lateral acceleration during abrupt driving maneuvers. The system also uses the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) signal from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) via a class 2 serial data circuit. The control module is constantly monitoring these inputs to achieve the desired current to the EVO solenoid. The BCM/ESC module has the ability to detect malfunctions within the VES system. Any malfunctions detected will cause the EVO outputs to be disabled. Some VES system malfunctions may cause the SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM warning message to be displayed on the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) message center.

NOTE: The BCM/ESC stores the DTCs scan tool data and special functions. However, the scan tool menu to access variable effort steering is located in chassis.

[keoni1978]

thanks for all the info 99ss! Now, does this have to do with me leveling my car or no? and if not what should I tell the service dept when I bring my car in again. Should I print out all the info you have given me and give it to the service dept.

[99ssconv]

what do you mean leveling? if your vehicle does have this option i would check for trouble codes and go from there, if no codes are present i would replace the steering wheel position sensor seeing that thats what usually messes up.