i recently spun my car into a ditch one night driving home after a late shift at work during a snow storm. i got pulled out, and immediately noticed that my steering felt hard. this continued for a few days until it really started bugging me that i must have messed something up when i went into the ditch.

it feels like i have no power steering, stiff at low speeds, but dont notice much of a difference going 55 or so.

it still goes straight and the wheels are straight looking so i dont think i bent a tie rod or anything like that, anyone have any ideas as to what may have happened?

 

Fluid low?
I wonder if you blew a line.

 

I was thinking the same thing. Hopefully the steering rack didn't get damaged or is leaking

 

i will check out the lines next chance i get to use a lift.

i also noticed today while driving it that it makes this kind of a squeaking sound when idling, and when i use my wiper spray, my headlights flicker. could i have possibly severed some kind of wiring?

also had it buck on me a few times when under heavy acceleration, any possible relation?

 

Hard to say, but I kind of doubt the bucking issue is related. When was the last tune up done? I would put it on a lift and check it out. Do you have headlight wipers? When you use the windshield washer it also activates the headlight wipers. You might be seeing the shadow of the blade passing across the light

 

lol, i didnt even think about the headlight wiper, thats probably what it was.
i wont be able to get it on a lift until at least the 5th, so ill have to update you guys then

 

i'm guessing you broke a line somewhere, and that squeeking you're hearing at idle is the belt rubbing the pully for the steering pump. it's probably low on fluid and doesn't turn as freely as it should

 

I will suggest not to drive the car until checked to avoid the damage to powersteering pump and other parts. The pump may cease if run dry.

 

i checked the fluid level, its fine, so i dont think its a broken hose, could something on the rack itself get damaged, or get snow inside of it? i will jack it up and check out my tie rods and such, but are there any main things i should look for?

 

I would look for pinched metal lines.

 

lite...if you are going to need any of these parts the time to get them is now...before this car goes away...you indicated you wanted the rad support and the front bumper...anything else?

 

emailed you.
jacked it up yesterday and checked it out, didnt see any bent rods, or bent hoses or anything, possibly the rack itself?

 

Yes possible.

 

is there any way to dissassemble the rack to see what may be wrong? or would i just have to get a new one?