"Steering Assist Fault: Service Required." What Is the Message About?

New power steering systems have made vehicles safer and more user-friendly. Steering becomes more precise, and handling becomes nimbler as a result.

The power steering system is a combination of a hydraulic system and a mechanical system that provides a helping hand when necessary. First, a warning light will come on if the power steering assistance isn't functioning. Next, your car will send you the "Steering Assist Fault: Service Required" message. And now, you're in charge of figuring out what to do when the power steering stops working.

Steering assist fault message highlights

• Common reasons:dead 12V battery, problems with power steering
• How to fix:check the battery, read the codes with the scanner
• Possible consequences:car may not start
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$150-$500

How Does Power Steering Work?

The technology to implement power steering appeared in 1951. Engineers installed a hydraulic power steering system for simple maneuverability on a Chrysler Imperial. This technology continued to be helpful for the next 50 years.

Power steering is now possible because of EPAS. The term refers to electrically assisted steering in this instance. However, a hydraulic pump and fluid are still necessary for use. To simplify steering, EPAS doesn't utilize the engine's power but rather an electronic pump to pressurize the fluid.

How Does Power Steering Help?

In practice, the Power Steering system behaves like any other hydraulic system. However, you might be curious about how it produces pressure.

Accuracy comes from the collaborative workings of many big and tiny components. For example, the contents of a reservoir get dispensed in response to steering input. Likewise, the driver's input at the wheel is magnified and sent to the wheels through hydraulic fluid.

Before, the engine was also responsible for powering the pump. Then, a belt transferred the engine's power to the pump. These days, the energy required to run the pump comes from an electric pump.

The additional belt was draining a lot of power from the engine. When you take your hands off the wheel, the seat belt will tighten so that you remain safely seated. In general, the system is unreliable and unsatisfactory. Thankfully, an electric pump provides a viable alternative.

When necessary, electric pumps' capacity to draw power from a battery improves the system's overall efficiency. Power steering, or power-assisted steering, is what it sounds like. In the past, cars utilized a system that ran on nothing except hydraulic fluid and a motor. These days, finding a hybrid system that incorporates an electric pump is more common than not.

The EPAS comes with a power steering system. There is no requirement for any hydraulics to operate it. EPAS is an area of technology that is seeing tremendous growth now. Several cutting-edge features, such as lane assist, parallel parking help, and turning assistance, have been made possible by the new EPAS steering system.

Why Does the "Steering Assist Fault: Service Required" Message Appear?

Here are a few frequent worries about assisted steering systems when the "Steering Assist Fault: Service Required" appears:

• Power outage

The system's hydraulics are irrelevant to the issue at hand. If turning the wheel is substantially harder than usual, you may have an issue with the electrical system. The same thing happens when the hydraulic fluid level is low, so if that's not the problem and still happening, investigate the electrical system.

When the electrical assistance system fails, most often the electrical pump, pressurized fluid is not utilized for pivots. As a result, you'll get a more direct feeling behind the wheel without the turn assistance provided by power steering.

Using an OBD 2 scanner is the simplest method for diagnosing the problem. To solve the problem, try this method. Your search for the problem's origin will be more time-consuming and fruitless without one of these gadgets. First, inspect the steering system's wiring and fuses. Look for anything out of the norm that might be the root of the problem. It would help if you examined the battery's voltage in this scenario as a preliminary step.

Even though everything seems to function normally now, a strange defect might be the code's root. For example, there might be an issue with the warning light or the electronics part of the power steering system.

Make at least two attempts to start the automobile. If that's the case, you should expect the warning light to go off and then back on again. Remember that this is, at most, a stopgap measure. Use the earliest opportunity to get your vehicle checked.

• Weakened Fluid Supply

There can be no power steering without hydraulic fluid, whether a traditional or hybrid fluid-electric system. The power steering system might dry up if you don't periodically add fluid. In addition, the hydraulic system might not transfer enough power to the wheels if you use five times as much force to turn the steering.

As soon as you suspect your gas tank is becoming low, you should check it. Do not get out of your automobile to check the gas level if it is cold outdoors. You can't check the fluid levels until the engine has been started and allowed to heat up. You can't tell how much fluid is in your car unless you do this.

Reduced ease of use and possible component damage from low fluid levels might damage your power steering system. Unfortunately, it's possible to fool yourself into thinking that you can figure out the fluid levels once you've put your head down and given it some gas. Uninformed drivers may make it, but they could require a new steering system down the road.

• Disturbed Turning

When turning the wheel, you could hear a grinding sound. The resolution to this little problem is often simple. However, there may be occasions when the noises become very unsettling or frightening. Problems usually originate in the belt drive. First, check that the power steering pump pulley is in excellent shape. If you hear any grinding sounds, here is the first place to look. Sounds of grinding indicate a potential problem, although they may not be immediately dangerous.

You can easily fix this problem. Have a buddy assist you in jacking up the car, and then have them turn the wheel as you give them instructions. Once they start rotating the wheel, you may look down at the belt. Tighten it up and make the necessary adjustments if it seems loose.

• Dripping Fluid

The assistance system might fail if you lost the power steering fluid. So it's not simply an oil pool on the driveway. Don't waste time cleaning up the leak's aftermath; there are more important things to worry about.

If your power steering system springs a leak, you might see a drop in performance in a matter of minutes. The "Steering Assist Fault: Service Required" will appear as well. There's a chance that this might occur when you're behind the wheel. Mid-drive fluid loss is a real possibility and requires prompt attention.

Driving without power steering will need some getting used to. You and other drivers are in danger when you can't keep control of your car. The fluid used to steer vehicles is often a vibrant red or pink color. This hue is identical to that of transmission fluid.

You may inspect its location for fluid loss in the steering system. A puddle of water under the car's engine is a telltale sign of a steering fluid leak. But if there's a leak in the transmission fluid, it'll be easier to see in the center of the vehicle.

How to Get Rid of the "Steering Assist Fault: Service Required" Message?

You should never disregard power steering failure warnings. If you don't want to use the system while driving, however, you can easily turn it off and on again.

Restarting the vehicle is the simplest and fastest way to deactivate the "Steering Assist Fault: Service Required" message. Do this to use your car's capabilities fully and then turn the vehicle off completely to reset its electrical systems. You may reset the warning concerning the power steering assist problem by repeating the operation twice or three times.

The power steering system is essential for driver protection on the road. The breakdown of this system seriously endangers public safety. Because of this, you must not disregard the steering system's "Steering Assist Fault: Service Required" warning. As soon as possible, have it looked out.

The "Steering Assist Fault: Service Required" message is a problem you can't resolve by clearing the codes. This message is an early warning system in case power steering assistance fails. A problem with the power steering may be at blame in this scenario. To remain safe on the road, you shouldn't just disregard and reset the code.

If you do not act, your car will repeat the warning. In addition, the power steering will suddenly cease functioning if you continuously hit the reset button every time the message comes on. Check your power steering system at a mechanic and ask them to fix your problem. This is the only safe method to get rid of the "Steering Assist Fault: Service Required" warning. Besides, it guarantees that your power steering system won't suffer more damage in the future.