Not sure what your are driving but if it went stiff steering in both directions I would say either p/s belt fell off or the p/s pump is shot. Be sure the system is flushed if the pump is replaced.
If your power steering fluid is dark brown it means that it has been contaminated. Metal or rubber has gotten into the fluid if it is dark brown or black. This can and will impact your vehicle's performance.
yellow, brown, red????
brown brothers
That would be Quartermaster Robert Hichens, who received the order "hard-a-starboard!" He turned the ship to port (steering a ship to port, or left, meant turning the wheel to starboard, or right), exactly as he was trained to do. He ended up in Lifeboat 6, where Margaret Brown (the infamous "Molly" Brown) wrested control of the boat and encouraged the women to row.
Underneath the steering wheel to the right. The fuse box is brown and should contain 5-6 fuses (different Amp) in it.
Usually a brown wire located at the firewall next to the power steering booster. To the left of the booster looking from the front of the vehicle.
Probably. Take a look in your reservoir. Generally speaking it should be a nice red color. If it's brown or black, it should probably be flushed.
It's a brown wire with a connector. It's located on the firewall on the driver's side to the left of the power steering booster. Pull the connector apart before checking the timing. Be sure to re-connect afterwards.
The colour of the fluid in your car should be red, not brown. (Later astras use green mineral oil for the PAS). If it has discoloured, i would recommend replacing it as it obviously ain't been done for ages. The fluid you need to replace it is known as Dexron II, (ATF or auto geabox oil.)
because it is the shade of brown
To override a neutral safety switch, locate it (it should be at the base of the steering column) and remove the green and brown wire. Connecting these two wires together will bypass the safety switch and your reverse lights will turn on.
Most of the time people just used Dexron III automatic transmission fluid. If the fluid in yours is red....or maybe even turned brown I'd bet it is Dex fluid.