Power Steering problem

[Nocturnall]

I searched and didn't really come up with much on this.

I just drove from Manchester NH to Tempe AZ in 4 days with an sport loaded so much that it rode almost on the rear stops the whole way out, just had waaaaaaaay too much stuff that HAD to go with me. Truck handled great, no real problems all the way out. Now that I'm in Tempe whenever the truck get's warmed up and I"m driving around the power steering stops working. I checked the fluid and there is plenty in there. The belt is tight and appears in good working order. Not cracked to crap or overly worn or anything. Plus engine temp and electrical doesn't seem effected so I don't think it's the belt. I see no leaks underneath. When cold it's fine, just when warm it stops working. It's not even really at speed either, more when I"m pulling into a parking spot that I notice it which could be either fault in the system or cause I'm going so slow. Anyone have any ideas? The fluid could probably use a flush which I'll have to get on when I get back home.

 

[imnotted]

I had a similar problem with mine a while back that just randomly appeared (ok, it sat for all of one week). A fluid flush seemed to fix it, as I haven't had the problem since. It's ATF (mine is, anyway), so it expands when heated, so that might explain why it only happens when your engine heats up.

 

[Nocturnall]

I got power steering fluid in mine as far as I know.

 

[imnotted]

My FMC service manual says all the pumps use Mercon ATF.

 

[schmidlkofer]

that sucks. go pick up a haynes manual or call for and be like hey i have a quick question....and tempe is prety cool.

 

[CDW6212R]

Poor fluid causes most PS problems, power steering fluid is better for power steering than transmission fluid. I don't care what idiot wrote the Ford manual, he/she was an idiot. Put ATF in what it was designed for, a transmission. Good luck,

 

[Nocturnall]

Yea I didn't even bother to look at the manual for what fluid to put in because...uhh it's a power steering system...I just assumed power steering fluid is what you use. I suppose I should probably flush it out then, just use a turkey baster get out what I can, fill it go back and fourth a few times with the steering wheel then empty and fill it again?

 

[CDW6212R]

FYI, ,that Mercon that you are in love with is about to be obsolete, no longer legal to make. Ford is pulling the licenses, so now what, you will be forced to use fluid which isn't in the manual. Good luck, I shall continue to use power steering fluid in my power steering systems.

 

[Nocturnall]

that aimed towards me because I use power steering fluid, guess I didn't specifiy that in my original post.

 

[imnotted]

FYI, ,that Mercon that you are in love with is about to be obsolete, no longer legal to make. Ford is pulling the licenses, so now what, you will be forced to use fluid which isn't in the manual. Good luck, I shall continue to use power steering fluid in my power steering systems.

I never said I was in love with it, buddy. I just said it was the Ford specification, and I mentioned it because he was probably mixing power steering fluid with Mercon. No need for the attitude.

 

[Nocturnall]

Soo.....how do you flush the power steering system effectivly?

 

[ncc]

Hey nocturnall! Just butting in to say sorry we never had a chance to meet before you split. We'll miss having you around up here in Manch-Vegas!!!

Cheers, dude!

Jeremy

 

[trucku]

Soo.....how do you flush the power steering system effectivly?

for my 02 I disconnected the power steering cooler line to drain. You can probably disconnect a lower line to the rack, if you don't have a cooler. I did few drain and refills ( in between ran truck for 1 minute to circulate fluid while turning steering from left to right stop to stop) until the last drain had nice clean aft. I used mobil1 ATF and it got rid of the jitters my steering had. So if you have a power steering cooler drain it that way.

 

[cfd911]

powersteering fluid who cares?

ya know who cares if mercon is obsolete, who cares if you put powersteering fluid instead of mercon, it s just hydraulic fluid, ford hasbeen using atf fluid for years so now CDW is a genius because he uses powersteering fluid instead of mercon!!!!! WHO CARES

 

[cfd911]

Powersteering Update!

btw that was NOT a dig on you NOCTURAL i know you just asked a simple question and you deserve an answer, if you want to know the answer, you can put whatever you want in there ps fluid or atf fluid, i personally use what it calls for ATF fluid thats what the system was designed for, they could sell someone atf fluid in a powersteering bottle and they wouldn t know the difference, and atf has detergent qualities so your ps system won t get as gunked up if you change the fluid regulaly, basically all your putting in the system is a hydraulic fluid, ford recommeds mercon it s up to you, take care i hope that helps....