4 ms·
Also, if you haven't experienced it, steering a car with failed power steering is much harder than a car that just doesn't have it, because you are fighting the
by ericbarrett 4y ago
Also, if you haven't experienced it, steering a car with failed power steering is much harder than a car that just doesn't have it, because you are fighting the hydraulics. Last time I had to do this it took all my strength and I had to brace myself against the door, just to turn into a garage. So the scenario addressed by the recall can effectively disable the vehicle.
- t_sawyer 4y agoNormal car power steering operates with a rubber belt that can break at any time. It's being fixed just like you may have to fix a serpentine belt one day.
- ericbarrett 4y agoIt's increasingly common for conventional cars to have electric power steering, because it definitely has advantages over mechanically-pumped systems—both maintenance and efficiency. GM tried this several years ago with poor results, but the systems providers (Bosch etc.) have made great strides; I expect almost all new models will have it soon. Same failure mode, though.
- zemvpferreira 4y agoNo. It's being fixed as if every car off the line had been shipped with a defective serpentine belt from day zero. I have no bone to pick with Tesla but let's not confuse normal wear and tear with sloppy engineering.
- bombcar 4y agoProtip if in that situation again: it is much much easier to turn the wheel if the car is moving even very slowly. If you are not moving, you are literally grinding the tires into the pavement with the entire weight of the car on them, if you are rolling it is easier. It'll still be very hard.
- ericbarrett 4y agoI've owned several cars without power steering, definitely familiar with this. In my experience the effort to turn a car with disabled power steering exceeds this even when the affected vehicle is moving. Though I'm sure this varies by model and weight.