Ford Ka, heavy steering

My girlfriends Ka has all of a sudden developed heavy steering. Tire pressure seems OK. Is there anything else easy to check? Presumably they have power steering?

Hydraulic fluid low in the steering pump? If it’s a Ford, the vital stuff under the bonnet that needs filling/checking should be yellow.

If it’s a sudden thing then I guess the power steering pump is kaput.

if not the pump then maybe some sort of regulator or something. Check the fluid though, might be all gone.

Will have a look tonight. If its low, and assuming there aren’t any massive leaks, is it just a case of topping it up?

You shouldnt really be losing any. Battery light isnt on is it? If it is then aux belt.

Is it an original Ka or the new style? The original makes a groaning noise on steering when the hydraulic fluid is low.

And to answer your question, yes.

Give the knuckle joints a spray with grease, they may have gone dry. (Happened on an old Fiesta of mine, albeit not one with power steering).

Is the belt slipping/come off?

Don’t know about the atl belt, but no reports of any dash lights, so guessing its OK.

Pretty sure its one of the original ones.

Will have a poke round tonight.

Cheers all.

Knowing most females and cars, the engine is probably seized and there’s nothing wrong with the steering.

If it is heavy at idle and gets lighter when you increase the revs, it’s probably the pump.

Also it can go heavy/notchy with old fluid, if it gets worse after a run its a sure sign the fluid is breaking down.

mk1s have common power steering faults: often pumps or corroded pipes.

As above check the universal joints at the bottom of the steering column done quite a few over the years symptoms are heavy steering and a reluctance to self centre when going back to the straight ahead position after turning

Top strut mounts. Jack it up and I bet the struts drop an inch.