94 850 Front end/steering questions

[lext]

I have a bizarre problem that I wonder if anyone has seen/had opinion on.

First of all when I turn, if I I turn the steering wheel to max or near max setting (say when I'm doing a U-turn) then there's some groaning from the front. It's not loud, but it's noticeable. It's less when I'm moving slowly, so I always U-turn very slowly (partly also because I'm afraid if I move faster something may break).

Secondly, and this is more serious, when I move the car in a turn but not near the max setting (i.e. the groaning doesn't show yet), for example when I'm on a freeway cloverleaf on-ramp moving at 25-30mph, when I'm almost out of the turn and press on the gas to go faster/merge, it sort of loses power. It's like the gas pedal suddenly becomes unresponsive, I may press but the engine doesn't rev and it even sounds like it may die (imagine the sound when the engine is choked with too much gasoline - not that I think it's the case but that's what it sounds like). Usually it'll come back (being responsive) again after about 5-10 seconds, although sometimes it does feel like it may just stop altogether (but it never does).

The strange thing is that this only happens when I slowdown on the circle before getting on the freeway. If I'm driving in a straight line then the acceleration is responsive as usual. So I guess this may have something to do with the steering system, although I don't know what steering has to do with how the engine operates.

By the way the two problems may or may not be related. I just want to provide all the information in case someone may have some idea.

Last question: I just find out the power steering fluid is very low. Is there any damage/consequence if the car is driven with low or no of this fluid? I guess the pump might be damaged, and the steering wheel might be heavier, but is there some more long-term damage elsewhere?

Many thanks!

[kahl]

with the small amount of your car's info given, I would start your car and turn the wheels full right and left. does it make the groaning noise? I suspect that low fluid in a turn causes power steering fluid starvation at the pump. you need to find out why you are losing fluid. top off your power steering fluid.

Losing power in a turn could be a wide variety of things, is your car a turbo, mileage, age of spark plugs, plug wires, rotor and cap. did this losing power start all at once, is it getting worse? years ago on a 94 850 turbo we had it also lost power in a turn. turns out the 5 pounds of keys my wife had on the key chain wore the ignition switch. put in a new ignition switch and problem went away. search ignition switch and you will find similar problems.

[lext]

Oh it's a 94 non-turbo with about 175K miles on the clock.

It's interesting that you said the key chain can make a difference. When we turn, the position of the key doesn't change (from what I can tell), but you're saying something inside the key hole does change position? Not that I disagree with your finding, I'm just curious where the connection can be.

One thing about my problem is that it happens for a short while even after the turn. It's like when I'm almost out of the turn, I have to straighten the steering and then press on the gas, and that's when I feel I get no power. It lasts for about 5-10s (pretty annoying when you know you have to speed up to merge), and then all of a sudden the engine starts revving hard (because my foot is still on the pedal) and the car will surge forward.