Q: Steering problems. Alternator? Belts? Stupid car? Help!

asked by on December 16, 2017

I was driving my car home and was reversing out of a parking spot, when I did this the steering wheel got stiff and hard to turn. I shut off my car and turned it back on and it worked fine again, so I continues driving home. I got to a stop light and noticed my wheel was stiff again while I was just sitting there, so I turned off the car and turned it on again and the car was fine. When I got it home I noticed the batter light was on which was odd (I just got a new battery last week) and when I turned it off and on again the better light was gone. (I have no dimmed lights)

My car has 63000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Have to replace my brakes really frequently
The rear brake pads should last you over 30,000 miles if everything is working normally. In your case the rear pads are not lasting more than 10,000 miles, this is an indication of a problem in your brake system. If...
ABS/VDC/Slip light on.
Hello. If these lights were not on prior to replacing these parts then you need to start by checking the brake fluid (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-fluid-is-leaking-inspection). Low brake fluid or a bad brake fluid level sensor will cause this problem. If the fluid...
Car jolts on starting and sometimes is fine
The vehicle may have more than one problem and would need to be thoroughly checked in order to properly diagnose the problem. I would recommend having a certified mechanic test the system's computer and perform a road test to see...
Black residue in the tailpipes
This is probably not a problem. If your state or locale requires emissions testing (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-is-my-car-tested-for-emissions), this will be an immediate way to determine if the engine is running too rich (burning too much fuel for a given amount of air)....
Evaporative Emissions Control
Your car has a small purge valve that controls the venting of fumes from the fuel tank as these fumes build up inside, particularly when you are refueling the car with gas. The EVAP system prevents fuel vapors from the...
2009 HHR left turn signal on constantly. I disconnected the battery and reconnected but it's still on.
Hi there. Check the turn signal switch on the steering column. If the blinker is staying on and not shutting off, then the blinker switch is stuck on. You could remove the switch from the steering column and take it...
Returning Odometer setting to actual miles
Hello. On your particular vehicle it has a couple things which show on that screen such as Trip A, Trip B, the current vehicle mileage, and also the mileage until the next service is due. To toggle the screen you...
Car shuts off when stepping on pedal
Hi There, A number of things may cause the car to shut off when stepping on the gas pedal (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-shuts-off-when-stepping-on-gas-pedal-inspection) such as a bad fuel pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pump-replacement), a vacuum leak, a clogged fuel filter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-filter-replacement) or a dirty or faulty...
One strut mount we up with a dust cap on, one without. How big of a deal is it?
Hi Dan. Thanks for the question today. In regards to geometry, handling and "whether it's fine", a dust cap should not have that great of an impact. I'm curious as to why the mechanic did this - as to me,...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Dodge Charger
If If you’ve always loved driving performance cars but you don't know how you’ll fit a baby seat in a Mustang or a Camaro, the 2012 Dodge Charger could be the car for you. While it has the room and...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Dodge Ram
While While Chrysler has decided to give Ram its very own division, it seems impossible not to think of the Ram 1500 as a Dodge. After all, you’ll still buy your 2012 Ram at a Dodge dealer, and it remains...
2012 GMC Acadia vs. 2012 Dodge Journey: Which One Should I Buy?
The GMC Acadia is classed as a midsize SUV, which is able to seat between six and seven passengers comfortably. The 2012 Acadia offers three rows of seating, so passengers will feel the roominess that is typical in a true...