Steering: Description and Operation

DESCRIPTION - POWER STEERING SYSTEM
This vehicle comes with power steering as standard equipment and it is the only steering system available. The power steering system consists of these major components:
- Power Steering Pump
- Power Steering Gear
- Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
- Power Steering Fluid Supply Hose
- Power Steering Fluid Pressure Hose
- Power Steering Fluid Return Hose

OPERATION - POWER STEERING SYSTEM
Turning of the steering wheel is converted into linear (side-to-side) travel through the meshing of the helical pinion teeth with the rack teeth within the steering gear. The lateral travel pushes and pulls the tie rods to change the direction of the vehicle's front wheels. Power assist steering is provided by a belt driven rotary type pump. It directs fluid through power steering fluid hoses to the power steering gear where it is used to assist the driver's turning effort. Manual steering control of the vehicle can be maintained if power steering assist is lost. However, under this condition, steering effort is significantly increased.

WARNING: POWER STEERING FLUID, ENGINE COMPONENTS AND EXHAUST SYSTEM MAY BE EXTREMELY HOT IF ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING. DO NOT START ENGINE WITH ANY LOOSE OR DISCONNECTED HOSES OR DRIVE BELTS. DO NOT ALLOW HOSES TO TOUCH HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR CATALYST.

CAUTION: During repair procedures requiring the power steering fluid hoses to be disconnected, cap all open ends of the hose connections. This will prevent the entry of foreign material into the components while the power steering hoses are disconnected.