Hi

Recently I have this issue: the steering wheel is very hard but only when the car is not moving and engine in idle.

A few months ago I replaced the pump since it was leaking. I've also replaced the belt just in case. It was fine for a while until now I have this problem.
I tried to bleed the system, it seems a bit better now but still difficult to rotate while not in motion.
I checked the belt and tensioned, both look fine. No sign of leaks.
could it be that air is penetrating the system somehow? Any other ideas? Normally one would think about the belt, especially because it happens only when idle, but as I mentioned, I checked it and looks fine.

Thanks

 

You are not going to like this, but there are a lot of inferior imported parts going around. Hope you purchased the replacement from the dealership. If not, could be a pump quality problem.

 

Indeed...I don't like it , bought it from an online eBay shop in Lithuania...It worked perfectly until a few months later, I opened the high-pressure hose bolt in order to replace the belt....I'm starting to think that maybe the hose is capoot after all its a 13 year old car and I don't think it was ever replaced, at least not during the 10 years I own it

 

We are aware dealerships charge more , but take a different angle look at this.
If a shop gets hold of a defective pump , they have to do the job over again and eat the labor.
Guys working at dealerships can't afford repeat work without getting paid for it so they have to have reliable suppliers . There is a lot to be said with, "You get what you pay for".