YACT: Did my power steering bite the dust?

[Led Zeppelin]

Yesterday, I took my mom's 2001 Pontiac Grand Am SE1 6 cylinder, approx. 73,000 miles, out to get some gas, and as I was making a U-Turn, I heard something go "pop", and ever since then, it's been nearly impossible to turn left or right without using every muscle in your body to turn the steering wheel. If I'm not making any turns, the car drives fine.

I pulled into a McDonalds thinking I had a flat tire, but all the tires were fine. The car does (did) have power steering, and I'm assuming that something happened to it while making that U-turn. Not being a mechanic by any means, or really knowing nothing about cars, my question is, am I alright in my assumption that my power steering went kaput? If so, how expensive (ball park) is it to get fixed usually? Could it be that something happened inside one of the tires that I can't see externally? I don't think that would make it near impossible to steer the car though. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Check the power steering fluid level. Should be in a clear container under the hood (like brake fluid is). If it's empty or sludgy, take it to a mechanic as soon as you can.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

I'm going to guess that the belt popped. If not then check the pump, lines, and rack. Anything wrong with these would usually be indicated by leaking fluid.

Cost $5-$300

 

[imported_Mike]

holy run on batman in paragraph 2

 

[SuperSix]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
I'm going to guess that the belt popped. If not then check the pump, lines, and rack.

Doubtful it's the belt - that motor has a single belt for everything, the ALT light would be on, and it would overheat quickly.

Not sure what could "pop" and cause complete failure - I also doubt it's a fluid level issue.

 

[Rightwinger]

$50 says one of the CV joints went south

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: SuperSix

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
I'm going to guess that the belt popped. If not then check the pump, lines, and rack.

Doubtful it's the belt - that motor has a single belt for everything, the ALT light would be on, and it would overheat quickly.

Not sure what could "pop" and cause compktet failure - I also doubt it's a fluid level issue.

oh didn't look it up and not familiar with the car. Shouldn't be hard to figure out though.

 

[sandorski]

Don't delay getting it checked, you could be wrecking more parts as you drive. I suspect your fluid levels are low, definitely check it out. I'm not a mechanic and don't know what all that car has, but when I had a similar issue it was the Strut that had cracked and lost it's fluid.