The steering assembly of a car gives you the liberty to control your car as per your own wish. But sometimes, just like any other car part, the steering can also create a problem with your control. Sometimes drivers can feel that the vehicle is getting difficult to control at a lower speed, especially when they try to drive it within a straight line. For help, modern generation cars come with a steering assist system. The steering assist system helps drivers to turn the car with a small touch on the steering. But sometimes, you may see the message, “Steering assist is reduced drive with care.” What does this mean? And when does this kind of message appear?
What Does Steering Assist is Reduced Drive with Care Mean?
To understand the real meaning of this message, first, we have to understand what steering assist means. Modern generation cars come with this function. The steering assist function is there to help the drivers steer the car with minimal or no effort. You can drive with the turn of a single knob. But there is one and only requirement that this function requires, and that is the vehicle should have ABS (anti-lock braking system) system installed. You can turn it on by pressing the dedicated button on the steering wheel or from the car’s radio.
When certain circumstances happen, the steering assist system helps the driver to drive the car by putting in very less effort. When the “steering assist is reduced, drive with care” appears on your dashboard, that means there is something wrong with your steering assist system. In this situation, you can expect engaged steering assistance when you need it.
Causes Behind “Steering Assist Is Reduced Drive with Care” Message
Well, there can be multiple reasons behind this situation. But the most common reason is low voltage from the battery or a stored trouble code in the steering assist control module. It can also happen due to a defective power steering control module. Let’s have a detailed look at all the possible causes of this message.
Defective Car Battery
Steering assist can get malfunctioned because of the electrical supply. The battery gives power to all of the parts that need electricity to perform. It goes through different avenues. If the power amount gets low, the steering assist function may get defective. To solve this problem, first, you should check all of the connections and electric sockets.
Old Stored Trouble Code
When the battery voltage gets low, the steering control module stores a trouble code. And because of the trouble code, the message appears on the dashboard. Whenever the module stores a trouble code like P028, the message pops up on the steering assist system.
Stuck Open Thermostat
If you see a message on your dashboard written “Steering assist is reduced drive with care” along with the P0128 code, that means there is some issue with your cooling system.
Every car has a thermostat that regulates the flow of coolant through the radiator and the engine. It ensures the temperature of the engine is normal. If the thermostat remains stuck open, the steering assist system will get defective.
A Broken Temperature Sensor
As we are discussing the temperature of the car, we cannot forget the temperature sensor. This sensor tells us the overview of engine temperature. Now, if the sensor ratings are high or low, we cannot determine the temperature. As the ECM is not getting exact data, the steering assist function may not work properly.
How To Fix the Steering Assist Is Reduced Drive with Care Problem?
Just to fix the warning message, you can follow these instructions:
- First, you can check the battery percentage. Make sure that the vehicle’s steering assist system is getting enough power to run. Use a car battery tester or the alternator to check whether the battery is charging that properly or not.
- If there are any previously stored trouble codes, clear them to make the warning disappear. Use the code scanner to rectify the problem and the DTC. After that, you will be able to fix the problem. Once you get done with the problem-solving part, the message will get disappeared automatically.
- If there is any broken part that plays a role in your steering assist function, then you should replace the broken parts.
And the last option is to go to a mechanic. If you are not able to get the exact fault, go to a mechanic. Use exact tools and diagnose it properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Steering assist reduced means that there is something wrong with your steering assist system. The steering assist system helps the driver to steer the vehicle with less effort. If anything goes bad with the assist system, a message pops up on the dashboard notifying that the steering assist is reduced.
It completely depends on the fault type. If there is any severe issue with the steering assist function, you may need to spend more money. But on average, the cost is $800-$900, including the labor charges.
Yes, the good news is that you can drive your car without a steering assist. This electric function should not damage your car’s stability. But you should be careful at the same time as you have to put enough pressure on the steering manually.
Yes, this is the most effective and common reason for this problem. If the power steering does not have enough power to work properly, it will misbehave.
