Q: Steering wheel won't turn

asked by on February 09, 2016

There's a belt hanging from underneath the car. The car starts up, but the steering wheel won't turn.

Steering wheel is hard to turn Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

It would seem that you have just thrown off the power steering belt. The belt may have come off due to tensioner, or idler pulley failure. You should have all the pulleys and tensioner checked to see if one, or both, caused the belt to come off, or if the belt broke from age. I would recommend that you have a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect your entire power steering system for a proper diagnosis.

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

What does the “Check park aid” warning mean in the message center?
If your car is equipped with the Park Aid System (not all Fusions have this system), you may see a warning reading “Check park aid” displayed in the message center. If you do, it means that the Park Aid system...
Clutch does not engage and I cannot shift gears.
Hello and thanks for the question. Your problem could actually be linked to two separate systems, one would be the hydraulic system consisting of the clutch master cylinder and the slave cylinder located at or inside the bell housing of...
Tapping sound near brake pedal.
The clicking noise is one of the relays under the left side of the dash cycling on and off. I have seen aftermarket alarm relays do this and this may be the reason it is killing the battery. Most factory...
Steering wheel locked.
The loud noise may be due to the fluid has leaked out of the power steering pump. This would make the steering very hard to turn without any power assist. The system has a major leak if it lost all...
How do I turn on the dome lights?
The dome lights provide light to the interior of your vehicle. To turn on the dome lights, press the Dome Lamp button. Press this button again to turn off the lights.
What could be cuasing my problems?
I would recommend having the battery tested along with the voltage regulator. When the voltage regulator does not regulate amperage correctly to the accessories (i.e. gauges, etc.), this can cause problems with accuracy and allowing them to read correctly. I...
Issues while shifting into park - 2011 Land Rover LR4
Hello. It sounds like the parking pawl inside the transmission might be failing. When an automatic transmission is put into park, it is mechanically shifted into neutral and the pawl will engage a gear connected to the output shaft of...
Engine starts but dies after 3-5 seconds
Hi there. This can be caused by a fuel rail pressure sensor, but most of the time when this code comes up it is because the fuel pump has failed (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pump-replacement). A fuel pump will fail much more often then...
Can an overheated engine cause a knock sensor to fail?
Hi there. From the description you have given, seems odd hitting a bird would damage the radiator, the condenser sits in front of the radiator. Regardless, high engine temperatures can affect sensors. The knock sensor could have failed due to...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Rock Climber
If If you’re a rock climber, you want a vehicle that gets you where you need to go, even if the terrain gets rough. You may be living out of your vehicle at times, so you also want a rig...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Pitman Arm Shaft Seal
If the power steering fluid is leaking, at a low level, or making a noise, you may need to replace the pitman arm shaft seal.
How Bad Driving Prematurely Wears Out Your Car
Bad drivers and bad driving habits can cause strain on car parts, especially the tires, brakes, body, and electrical and steering systems.