1996 Q45 Steering Stiff

[soloQ45]

My Q45 steering seems to have lost power. I have to muscle it to turn.
Then it sometimes overturns and I have to correct it.
I've checked the fluid levels; they seem ok.
Any ideas?

[qship96]

belt condition and tension?

[soloQ45]

Forgive me, I'm a novice.
Is the belt easy to see? Where is it?
What tension should it be?

[life602]

look here bro... http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/2003_Q4 ... Q45/ps.pdf
its for a 2003 or check this website and select ur year www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/ then look for the file ps.pdf

[Infinitiguy19]

The belt is on the front of the engine. It looks like a black rubber (For a lack of a better word) belt. The one your looking for is on the far right of the engine.

The tension is measured with a spring scale or portable (yet accurate) fish scale. Or a old trick is to put on finger on the top and the other on the bottom of the belt. If it turns more than 90* then its too loose. If it turns less than 45* then its too tight.

[1996QShip]

Do you feel it's a mechanical or electrical issue? Remember your car has a fail safe mode so it partially assists as if you were driving at highway speeds.

[soloQ45]

Belt Tension was fine, wear was nominal.
I suspected a failed solenoid...but then, I was using a 1994 shop manual, and I have a 1996 (manufactured 1995) vehicle. Is there a big difference?
Meanwhile, a couple of senior technicians figured it out on a lift. The U-joint in the steering column has lost lubrication and so the action is very stiff. The guys were able to deduce this because the steering went stiff in at standing turn at the 11AM and 1PM positions. That's the difference between a novice (your's truly) and the pros...
Steering's now a dream...though I was warned that because the U-joint is next to the catalytic converter; the heat from the converter is evaporating the lubrication...so it's a matter of time before the stiffness returns.
Now I need to find a good used u-joint to replace the other ones.
Thanks for all your advice.

[qship96]

not so sure I buy their diagnosis,and your other post regarding the tachometer issues just reinforces that for me.

[soloQ45]

OK, what do you think could be the problem on this...and the tachometer problem...and the crazy headlights?

[Q451990]

I had the same issue with that U joint on my old Q - but it appears to be fairly rare overall to see one fail. If you replaced that joint, you should be good for at least 100K. If they just lubricated it, then it will fail again very shortly. I'd just order one from www.infinitipartsusa.com or a dealer of your choice. According to their web site is $77.10. Look under steering column, view illustration, and coupling, which is #6.

Heath

[1996QShip]

I have a similar issue. Except my tach needle bounces when I push the engine. And my speedo works about 95% of the time. My power steering is in a fail safe mode and only works randomly 2% of the time. I feel it's either my cluster or some speed sensor somewhere. I know I've changed the one on my transmission. That didn't help. I hope this post gives you some more insight.

[IThaJ0kaI]

I have a similar issue. Except my tach needle bounces when I push the engine. And my speedo works about 95% of the time. My power steering is in a fail safe mode and only works randomly 2% of the time. I feel it's either my cluster or some speed sensor somewhere. I know I've changed the one on my transmission. That didn't help. I hope this post gives you some more insight.

If the powersteer fails, when the speedo fails, its inside the cluster. My 96 has the same problem, swapping the cluster would take care of it. I just bypassed it completely, as that speed assisted steering stuff isnt for me.