Compare power steering repair quotes from specialist garages in Birmingham

Birmingham is the second-largest city in the UK, so you're sure to be spoilt for choice when choosing a garage. Getting around the city is easy, with eight local rail lines, trams run by West Midlands Metro and regular buses by Arriva. There is a congestion charge zone, known as the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, inside the A4540 Middleway Ring Road. You may have to pay if you enter it. Did you know Birmingham was the first city in the U.K. to have a hydrogen fill-up point for cars?

A Clean Air Zone (CAZ) operates in Birmingham to improve air quality and specifically reduce public exposure to nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant produced by traditional combustion engines. This goal is achieved by encouraging the use of cleaner vehicles, such as EVs, and restricting high-pollution vehicles. Many CAZs charge drivers for entering them, though some are non-charging. Before driving in Birmingham, it's worth checking online whether you will have to pay for driving through the zone.

You may encounter a congestion charge in some parts of Birmingham. Congestion charges are used to reduce the number of vehicles driving in a busy area, often a city centre, by making drivers pay a daily tariff to enter them. The charging zone usually operates at certain times, and once you have paid, you can leave, drive around and re-enter it as many times as you would like within that day. You can find more information about Birmingham's congestion charge online.

Driving in cities like Birmingham puts extra strain on your car due to long periods of idling and frequent stopping and starting in traffic. The parts most at risk are the brakes, cooling system and transmission. Manoeuvring into tight parking spaces and navigating busy roads can result in scuffed alloys and dented or scraped bodywork while driving over potholes can throw out your suspension. FixMyCar can help you find affordable repairs and maintenance in Birmingham for all these crucial components.

Power steering is designed to reduce the effort required by the driver to turn the steering wheel. Without this system, the steering in your car would be extremely heavy, making it challenging to do low-speed manoeuvres.

Common problems requiring a power steering repair include low or leaking power steering fluid, loose or broken belts, worn hoses and a damaged pump. You should contact a power steering specialist if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Stiff steering
• A squealing or whining noise
• Vibrations felt through the steering wheel
• Low or discoloured power steering fluid

Most cars need a power steering fluid flush every 40,000 to 80,000 miles, and this distance is usually specified in the owner's manual. If it has been longer than the recommended distance since your vehicle's system was flushed, booking a power steering and fluid service should be a priority.

You can learn more about how your car's steering works here.