Power steering failure

[JDM23]

I’ve seen the threads about loss of Power steering and I’ll be damned if it didn’t happen to me. Jumped the brakes on expressway as an A hole cut me off then realized in a panic that I lost my power steering and am flying down the highway in an unsafe manner. Took the next exit which was of course a 25mph loop which is awesome with no power steering, however as I reduced speed voila power steering came back. Wtf. Leaving town for a few days but will be taking into dealer when I return. Anyone else still having this issue? It really takes the confidence out of driving this thing.

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[Lost1wing]

I’ve seen the threads about loss of Power steering and I’ll be damned if it didn’t happen to me. Jumped the brakes on expressway as an A hole cut me off then realized in a panic that I lost my power steering and am flying down the highway in an unsafe manner. Took the next exit which was of course a 25mph loop which is awesome with no power steering, however as I reduced speed voila power steering came back. Wtf. Leaving town for a few days but will be taking into dealer when I return. Anyone else still having this issue? It really takes the confidence out of driving this thing.

No replies yet? There was another thread on here. Last I saw they were looking for the ground for the electric pump.

 

[Uparms]

You get any christmas tree lights or any error or warning messages?? When my 2020 went dash / warning light crazy, I lost power steering, and trans locked in gear. Dealer did not document what he did to the steering ( but said he did) but I had him replace the can bus fixtures behind he dash. Was fine for 2K miles. Took 9 days. Warranty.

 

[Jim-HV]

Having the power steering go out while driving must have been scary. Mine recently went out and I was just backing out of a parking space and was freaking out.

 

[ShrimpHappens]

I’ve seen the threads about loss of Power steering and I’ll be damned if it didn’t happen to me. Jumped the brakes on expressway as an A hole cut me off then realized in a panic that I lost my power steering and am flying down the highway in an unsafe manner. Took the next exit which was of course a 25mph loop which is awesome with no power steering, however as I reduced speed voila power steering came back. Wtf. Leaving town for a few days but will be taking into dealer when I return. Anyone else still having this issue? It really takes the confidence out of driving this thing.

Mine did it once a couple of years ago; hasn't happened since.

I posted about it in a thread then, and there seemed to be a common thread in the ...thread... of it happening in cold temps. For me it happened immediately after flooring it to make it through a changing yellow light.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’ve seen the threads about loss of Power steering and I’ll be damned if it didn’t happen to me. Jumped the brakes on expressway as an A hole cut me off then realized in a panic that I lost my power steering and am flying down the highway in an unsafe manner. Took the next exit which was of course a 25mph loop which is awesome with no power steering, however as I reduced speed voila power steering came back. Wtf. Leaving town for a few days but will be taking into dealer when I return. Anyone else still having this issue? It really takes the confidence out of driving this thing.

Check ground connections....... (won't hurt to check your running system voltage and battery voltage as well)
There's a TSB (and multiple threads here) on a similar issue. For the TSB, it may set a code (meaning the MIL comes on)
Check for loose fuses.
The EHPS pump itself is run through N6 in the high current fuse array but there's also F34 involved. Make sure all fuses are seated.

A ground issue is fairly common on these.

 

[JDM23]

Thanks for all the supp

Check ground connections....... (won't hurt to check your running system voltage and battery voltage as well)
There's a TSB (and multiple threads here) on a similar issue. For the TSB, it may set a code (meaning the MIL comes on)
Check for loose fuses.
The EHPS pump itself is run through N6 in the high current fuse array but there's also F34 involved. Make sure all fuses are seated.

A ground issue is fairly common on these.

 

[JDM23]

Thanks for all the support and guidance. Really nice to help keep one sane. Out in BC over holidays but will let you know what the outcome is once I return. Happy Holidays all!

 

[Steel24]

This has happened to me twice. First time I was driving on a curve and felt like my steering locked up for about 2 seconds then came back.
The second time I was driving with my plow and while driving I repositioned the plow blade and had the same loss off power steering feel. The power steering came back but then I moved the blade again to see if it would repeat and it did.
went all plow season without it happening again. I felt like the power surge from moving the plow did something to the electrical system making the power steering fault. But to be honest it felt more like a “locked” steering wheel. I’ve driven old trucks with no power steering and while moving down the road and making a turn didn’t feel like that much force/ resistance.
I haven’t felt this happen in about 2 years and I never did anything to try and fix it.
would love to hear what Jeep has to say on this topic now that it’s obviously happening more frequently with other gladiators.
2020 Rubicon with new metal gearbox not the oem aluminum one. That one I had replaced under warranty when I first bought the Jeep due to lose “boat like” steering.
Now I have 72,000. At the time this was going on I had maybe 40-50K

 

[JDM23]

Honestly you’re right! It felt more than lack of power steering and more like locked up, with force was able to manuvour slightly each way but no way could I turn quickly. I have 2022 with 34k I’m second owner and have put on about 1k only myself. Clean carfax when I bought with no record of this in the shop. So yeah freaking out a bit this warranty is almost up. Decision time after what dealers has to say.

 

[tabrods]

Here's my story - I was pulling onto I-90 behind another car, got into the passing and the guy in front of me started to pull into the same lane. I hit the brakes from a good acceleration, and as I passed the slow guy I realized my power steering was gone. Really hard to steer until I slowed down and pulled over when it went back to normal. Went immediately to the dealer, no answer from sales guy or parts head guy, went out to talk to shop head guy. I explained it to him and the same thing happened to him. He was puzzled and dug around. His explanation was the side sensors, which I have, felt the hard accel, quick lane switch, and cars on the right of me. He said it was the sensors trying to drive the car. Now this guy has always been straight with us, better than 95% of shop people I've previously deal with and have no reason to doubt the explanation. According to him a convergence of events and the sensors freaked out. Take it for what it's worth....

 

[JDM23]

I don’t have the side sensors and I had nothing lighting up on the dash either. Crazy

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

I am curious if under these circumstances being described if the pump is sucking a little bit of air through the res. Tank….. after reading into another thread discussing the art of bleeding and the system having nearly a quart air bubble that is a pain to burp….. just a thought/theory…. Also wonder if this is why adding the apex or similar cooler with an additional 2qt capacity helps with the res. Draw down. ??‍ might bring a power steering cooler up higher on my list after all….

 

[ShadowsPapa]

He was puzzled and dug around. His explanation was the side sensors, which I have, felt the hard accel, quick lane switch, and cars on the right of me. He said it was the sensors trying to drive the car. Now this guy has always been straight with us, better than 95% of shop people I've previously deal with and have no reason to doubt the explanation. According to him a convergence of events and the sensors freaked out. Take it for what it's worth....

I'll take it for what it's worth - and that's nothing at all on a JT or Wrangler.
These do not have lane departure and do not have the ability to control your steering or direction.
There's no side sensors to drive it. Those are for blind spot monitoring only.
He's spent too many days with Grand Cherokees, etc.

I am curious if under these circumstances being described if the pump is sucking a little bit of air through the res. Tank….. after reading into another thread discussing the art of bleeding and the system having nearly a quart air bubble that is a pain to burp….. just a thought/theory…. Also wonder if this is why adding the apex or similar cooler with an additional 2qt capacity helps with the res. Draw down. ??‍ might bring a power steering cooler up higher on my list after all….

No draw-down. Once filled, a hydraulic system isn't going to continue to suck the reservoir dry - where's it going to put that extra fluid?
I know there's a lot of talk about air and so on, but thus far, I've never actually seen it proven and neither of my JTs had any such a problem.
Each of these instances is far better explained by electrical issues - it's not any different than the PS in your 1970 Camaro in the respect that it's got a pump and hydraulic assist in the steering gear. It's also the same that once it's running and the air purged out, it doesn't suck down the reservoir. No hydraulic system works like that - belt driven or EHPS. Once the system is filled, the fluid is INCOMPRESSABLE - so it can't draw more in unless fluid is lost or there's air being compressed. Rules of hydraulics say - ain't gonna happen.

I don’t have the side sensors and I had nothing lighting up on the dash either. Crazy

Too much bad information out there and it's worse when it comes from dealerships, of all places.
The sensors ONLY are for BSM, Blind Spot Monitoring - the key word, MONITORING.
If you have a GRAND CHEROKEE with lane departure warning, it does have the ability to pull back on the steering wheel - but only to a point! you don't lose power assist.

No wonder Jeep people are so often confused or at a loss when something goes bad - even dealer staff toss mud at the walls to see what sticks.

One can use JSCAN to monitor the EHPS operation..............

And if there's still that concern over "air in the system", use the FCA procedure to use a vacuum pump on the reservoir to draw it out.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I've never actually seen it proven

I proved it 3 times.

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