Any time I'm reversing, and turning the wheel almost all the way in one direction (i.e.: Parallel Parking) the engine idle drops and becomes rough. The car does not stall. It's even worse when the AC is going.

Anyone else experience this?
Is this normal, or should I book an appt. with the service dept.?
What would cause this? Power steering pump or tranny?

BTW it's a 2006 Automatic.

Thanks!

 

I'm pretty sure its normal... I've experienced this in every car I've driven in... sharp steering causes lower RPMs, but I really can't explain the technicalities of it since I don't know why, although like you I am curious as well as to why it happens.

But no I don't think you have to worry about it unless its vibrating violently or you do actually stall (which, needless to say, shouldn't really ever happen in an auto)

 

Normal for all cars I know of with hydraulic power steering.

 

My educated guess is that when your steering wheel is all the way to one side the power steering pump is drawing a lot of power causing the alternator to slow up and drag the motor down with it.

Just a guess though, im not 100% sure.

 

Actually I've driven a few uh... either mercedes or bmws, I can't remember now... anyway, one of those brands doesn't do that. But maybe they have electric steering, I'm not sure.

 

It's perfectly normal... when you lock the wheel all the way in one direction, it still "Pushes", which draws power and lugs down the engine... just let off the wheel and it'll relax...

 

^^^ yup, 2 things to avoid, turn and holding the steering wheel at full lock, slamming the steering wheel into full lock. It's normal on all cars with conventional pump.

 

yup, definitly normal.. every car I've had has done that