Tight steering wheel on full lock

[gman88667733]

Only very recently this has started happening, I can't seem to reproduce it whenever I want though.

When moving slowly, say out of a parking spot at full lock, the steering wheel suddenly almost binds and feels stiff, like there is absolutely no power steering, it seems to be at the point of full lock? Then goes away as soon as I start to steer back out. Has only happened a handful of times, but have definitely never noticed it before. The steering in general is heavier than I believe it should be at low speed. When cold the steering is feather light. but when the car is warmed up, low speed steering (parking speed) is much heavier.
Any ideas?

Car is a 2002 Honda CRV auto.


Also, whilst i'm here. Another issue I've had since i've owned the car is that when idling, the idle tends to drop very low so the car shakes and is on the verge of stalling and then picks back up and slowly cycles this. If I tap the accelerator, it rises and then drops really low again then picks back up. Same thing when I come to a stop in traffic etc + when I select a gear. Also drops when I steer at a standstill, wondering if the low rpm causes the power steering to cut out at full lock? It seems to do it at the point of full lock.

I am going to clean the Idle air control valve this weekend and that seems to be one of the first suggestions and see if that helps

Edited by gman88667733 on Friday 6th November 15:13

Edited by gman88667733 on Friday 6th November 15:14

[GreenV8S]

I'd suspect either a stiff UJ in the steering column, or a PAS pump / pump drive problem. It might be something wrong with the rack itself, but the other options are probably worth checking first since they'll be cheaper to fix.