My friend was complaining that her Protege sometimes was hard to steer around S curves. I drove it last night & it was fine except when I was parallel parking-when I was backing up the
power steering completely quit working: note the steering wheel was at its full rotation to fit into a tight parking spot. I drove the car today & no problems. No whining from power steering, belts look good, power steering fluid full & looks good....checked tire pressures all were good-no alignment or other steering issues. Is it possible that there was water, maybe from condensation? in the power fluid that turned into ice & maybe clogged her power steering line? When she would have problems it would be after the car sat in a parking lot for 8 hours in freezing temperatures....Her power steering pump doesn't make any noise-but if she continues having problems steering sometimes could that be a sign the power steering pump is failing?