03 M45 Steering is LOOSE, MUSHY one day, TIGHT n Responsive on other days

[eskay]

Has anyone experienced your steering begin crisp and responsive one day, and then antoher day it is real loose and imprecise another day? I know on all cars they have a pump that the computer dictates to the steering to tighten of the steering based on speed, but does anybody know specifically what that is?

On the days when the steering is real loose and mushy, the car does not feel good. When it is like this, it does not matter whether I am driving slow or fast, turning the car, the steering wheel is real mushy and not precise.

When the steering is good, the steeering wheel is STIFF and Responsive, the way it should be ALL THE TIME. Is this a Rack and Pinion Issue? Does anybody know exactly what causes the steering precision to loosen up?

I have 35K miles and still under factory warranty. It just seems like this issue comes and goes, I am real busy and want to make sure I can reproduce this to the dealer, or at least come with the foreknowledge of what the issue might be. I appreciate any feedback.

[cremecreme]

Maybe a change of the power steering fluid?? I neevr heard of this, except on older cars when the PS pump was about to go out...or like you said a rack and pinion issue

[szh]

Yeah ... this is kind of unusual. It is possible that there is some junk in the power steering fluid. Might be worth a flush and refill - like cremecreme said, might be good to check the pump too.

Z

[auditech10]

I had a problem when it was really cold outside. It sounded like the steering rack had come loose and I checked the tie rods and visually inspected the rack while it was on the ground. Everything seemed ok. When it got warmer out then the noise/clunk went away.

[eskay]

Yes the steering is much looser on cold days. That's exactly right. And when it warmed up, it was tighter and more responsive. I will check to pump and rods at the dealership. Thanks