Stiff power steering - 1998 Nissan Pathfinder

2 possibilities.
1.most likely your rack and pinion is out due to faulty power steering pump.
2.less likely your power steering is out.

Hi,
Look in the Owner's Manual on how to check the Power Steering fluid. Also the belt may need adjusted or replaced.
GL,
TD

Stiff power steering can be the result of low or contaminated power-steering fluid (it may need to be changed or flushed). A loose serpentine belt, a worn out power-steering pump, tie-rod/s or ball-joint/s may be seized, or possibly the rack and pinion may have an internal failure. I listed it in the order that I would check all related items. If you have any questions, findings, or details, please write back. Good luck.

Check the drive belt to the power steering pump and the level of fluid in the power steering reservoir.

under inflated tyres will make the steering stiff when trying to park.

on some models the power steering pump runs both the brakes and the steering..look for a broken/missing belt and low/leaking fluid in the power steering pump..replace whats bad..

I'd check the whole power steering unit

It should like you may have a leak if it took a whole litre. Once you fix the leak you may also find the power steering pump still makes noise. This can be repaired by replacing the pump. I hope this helps.

Check the hoses are not closed up and causing a restriction also check the relief valve.

There are 2 things that cause power steering to go stiff. The power steering pump itself either from failure or "lack of fluid" and the rack and pinion assy under the car.
Most of the time the failure is the power steering pump itself. The teflon rollers fail inside the pump and it either stops providing an output pressure or it seizes up. You can loosen the power steering pump belt then try to rotate the pump by hand. It should move by hand. If it feels like it is intermittently locking up as you rotate, it the teflon rollers have failed and the pump will need to be replaced.

Thanks for using FixYa.

Kelly