The power steering warning light on a car’s instrument dashboard may come on for several reasons. The cause may vary according to the type of power steering system in your car. For vehicles with hydraulic power steering, the most common reason for the power steering warning light is that the fluid level is low.
Why is My Power Steering Light On?
The power steering light on the dash is bound to cause some worry, especially as it usually comes on alongside a loss of power steering, which will make it much more difficult for you to steer your vehicle. You might already know how difficult it can be if you have ever driven a car with manual steering rather than power steering. And if you have always had power steering in your cars since starting to drive, suddenly being without it can be a bit of a shock.
What is the Power Steering Light?
The power steering system light will appear in vehicles that have hydraulic power steering if there is an issue with the system. Car manufacturers have been making cars with power-assisted steering systems for a few decades to make driving easier. Original power steering systems used a hydraulic pump that moved fluid into chambers in your steering system. When the engine is running and you turn your steering wheel, the pump fills one of the chambers, making it easier to turn the wheels. However, over the years, as power steering systems have gotten more common, electric power steering has taken over and the technology has become less expensive. These systems do not require any fluid and tend to be quieter, so they are more common today. If there has been a fault detected with your car’s power steering system, a power steering symbol warning light will appear on your dashboard.
What Does it Mean When the Power Steering Light is Flashing?
The reason for the power steering light flashing will depend on your make and model of car and whether you have a hydraulic or an electric power steering system. Most of the time, however, a flashing power steering light on the dashboard will usually mean that your car has lost or is about to lose power steering. This could be due to a loss of power steering fluid through a leak in a hydraulic power steering system or an electrical fault that has caused the electric power steering system to fail depending on the car that you drive. If you see a flashing power steering light and your car is becoming harder and harder to steer, you should pull over and call roadside assistance or take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible to have the problem diagnosed and fixed.
How Does the Power Steering Light Work?
The steering wheel warning light will usually appear on the dashboard in the shape of a steering wheel. Sometimes it is accompanied by an exclamation mark. If your car has electric power steering, the light may display EPS. The warning will usually be red or yellow.
What are the Common Reasons for the Power Steering Light Coming On?
Low Power Steering Fluid
In hydraulic power steering systems, a common reason for this warning light to come on your dashboard is that the power steering fluid is low. If you see this light turn on when you are driving, you should pull over and immediately check your fluid level. Top it up with the correct fluid as soon as possible, and the light should disappear.
Leaks
Bear in mind that low power steering fluid usually means that there is a leak that will need to be fixed. Adding more fluid will turn off the warning light, but it is likely to come back on again quite shortly if the fluid is leaking out. If you’ve had to top up your power steering fluid, it’s a good idea to have your car checked by a professional mechanic who can diagnose and repair the problem.
Electrical Errors
If you have an electric power steering system, the light will not come on to warn you of low fluid levels since there is no power steering fluid being used. In some cases, restarting the engine might be all that you need to do to turn the light off. Sometimes, small errors can happen, which cause the car’s computer to think that there is an issue where there isn’t. If this doesn’t turn the light off, then you will need to take your car to a professional who can diagnose the issue.
Is it Dangerous to Drive With My Power Steering Light On?
Although it is possible to drive when the power steering light is on, the car might be much harder to drive, especially if the warning light has been accompanied by a total loss of power steering. Driving without power steering can be very dangerous if you are not used to it since the car will be much more difficult to manoeuvre and turn. It’s important to use a lot of caution when driving without power steering, so it’s best to avoid using the car at all until you have had the problem solved. Otherwise, the risk of being involved in a collision can be much higher without power steering.
Will My Car Fail its MOT if the Power Steering Light is On?
The car may fail its MOT if the power steering light is on during the test and if the power steering system has failed. The tester will look for various issues and check if the power steering has been negatively affected with a road test. A leak of power steering fluid will cause the car to fail its MOT if there is a joint, seal, or other component that has failed. No power steering fluid in the reservoir will also cause an MOT failure, along with a fluid leak. Defective power steering that can be detected during driving such as the steering being stiff one way and not the other, or the car trying to steer to one side or the other when driving, can also cause an MOT fail. Any situation where a power steering issue has adversely affected the steering will be considered a dangerous defect and cause the car to fail the test.
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