![]() This arrangement could be a startling surprise to any potential thief hot wiring your car. On some designs the wheel had to be turned left or right 30 to 45 degrees to engage the lock. This pin prevents the wheel from being turned until the key is reinserted into the ignition switch and ignition turned on. When the engine is turned off and the key is removed from the ignition switch, the lock mechanism automatically inserts a hardened steel pin into a detent in the steering column. Some found this new location to be a bit inconvenient. The evidence of this mechanism was the keyed ignition switch relocated to the steering column from its former home in the dash. When you bought the car, it included such a system it was not an option. In the late sixties automobile manufacturers began installing steering wheel lock devices on their cars. No discussion of steering wheel lockup would be complete without a brief discussion of steering system theft prevention systems. Related: Hydraulic vs Electric Power Steering Steering System Theft Prevention Systems For this reason, power steering problems, though rare, can cause steering wheel lockup. In a sense, these power steering systems intervene between your hands on the wheel and the direction your car takes. It has far fewer components and requires no maintenance throughout the life of the car. This system is integral to the steering rack and assists steering motions to the front suspension similar to the belt driven pump system. The second type of power steering system is electrically operated. The rack has steel arms connected to the front suspension, these imparting course control for the car. The steering wheel has a shaft (the steering column) connected to the rack. The steering rack translates the driver’s turning of the steering wheel into mechanical motion that positions the direction of the front wheels. ![]() When the engine is running this fluid is pumped via flexible hoses to a mechanism called the steering rack. The oil level in this reservoir must be checked periodically. It includes a reservoir for the necessary hydraulic fluid (oil). Present in predominantly older cars, the first system we’ll discuss uses an engine driven pump. This pump is powered by one of the accessory belts typically on the front of the engine. Invisible to the driver, this type of system reduces steering effort enabling heavy vehicles to be turned with relative ease. Two types of power steering systems are currently in use. ![]() Power Steering Systems Credit: How A Car WorksĪll passenger vehicles including pickup trucks today are equipped with power steering.
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