Hard steering

ERIC12345

MEMBER
2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE
5.3L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
185,000 MILES

Out of ideas! The truck listed above came in with hard steering. Put a new power steering pump. Same thing maybe a faulty pump. Got another one same thing. Checked gear box figured it was the gear box changed that same problem, then went back and got a third power steering pump to swap out and I'm back where I started at. I checked the power steering pressure hose and it blows freely. Any ideas about what it can be. Also, customer was doing donuts when his steering went hard.

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,747 POSTS

Hi,

There is an Electronic variable orifice (EV0) solenoid mounted at the pump's output. Was that inspected and connected? It is an important part of the variable effort steering (VES) system. Based on input from the VSS, BCM, PCM, VSC, steering angle sensor, and so on, the EVO changes the fluid flow, changing the amount of effort it takes to turn the steering.

Since he was doing donuts, anything could have happened. However, has that been replaced and reconnected? See pic 1 for location. Pic 2 shows the connector. Pin A is the power supply and pin B controls the ground.

If it has, the next step is to scan the CAN to see if there is a fault code stored in one of the modules. There are several that control this circuit.

Let me know what you find or if you have other questions.

Take care,

Joe

See pics below.

Images (Click to make bigger)