I'm original owner of a 2012 Tacoma SR5 2.7L 4x4 5-speed MT with 98,000 miles. First week of April I bought a new auto which I primary drive now. The Tacoma mainly sits idly in driveway and is mainly been driven on weekends for short trips. During those short trips I've been noticing the steering has become rather "stiff" at low speed turns? Today it was very noticeable. I checked the fluid. Perfect ( I flushed steering system November 2019 @ 91,000 miles). Air pressure in tires great (newer Michelin tires with less than 10,000 miles). And no leaks or nothing out of ordinary under hood.
After a long test drive city/hwy driving it loosened up a tad. I then stopped in a large parking lot and kept turning steering wheel from left to right fully then it like loosened up? Drove it home and it felt fairly normal after that. Is my power steering pump on it's last leg, or is it frozen/stiffened up due to inactivity of driving? Anyone else had this experience. Truck has been basically trouble free until recently sitting idle. I appreciate any input.
After a long test drive city/hwy driving it loosened up a tad. I then stopped in a large parking lot and kept turning steering wheel from left to right fully then it like loosened up? Drove it home and it felt fairly normal after that. Is my power steering pump on it's last leg, or is it frozen/stiffened up due to inactivity of driving? Anyone else had this experience. Truck has been basically trouble free until recently sitting idle. I appreciate any input.