Two days ago when I slowed down is was kind of tough to turn into parking spaces yesterday at slow speeds its damn near impossible to turn my steering wheel. I need help I am not knowledgeable when it comes to cars, i am handy around the house and with electronics but just have never had anyone teach me about cars.
1. There is no loud screeching noices happening when i turn the wheel.
2. the serpentine belt seems tight enough where its not loose causing the pump to skip
3. I have checked the fluids i added maybe an 1/8-1/4 inch of fluid to the reservoir
4. The fluid in the reservoir is really brown mucky like oil looking, is it supposed to be that color

These are things that i googled and they said to check for i don't really see any fluid leaking on the ground so I am kind of at a loss is there any info you guys can give me that might help??
Matt

 

Hmmm.
Pump could have went bad. *shrugs*
I would drain the fluid into a container that you can look at, so you can see what color it is, and if there is any consistancy to it, IE metal, junk, yada yada.

Then refil the pump with fresh fluid, start up the truck, and let it run for a bit, then try and turn the wheel side to side.
Would be best if you had the front tires off the ground, or in the dirt.
Dirt would probably be the safest.
Once you feel them turning better, if they do. Turn it off, drain the pump again, and add new fluid.
When you turn the wheel, make sure you turn it all the way to each side a few times. This will cycle the fluid in the system and bleed out the air.

If the fluid you get out the second time is really really bad still, drain it again after that.

I hope this helps, thats the cheap way to find out whats wrong with the pump.

 

Hmmm.
Pump could have went bad. *shrugs*
I would drain the fluid into a container that you can look at, so you can see what color it is, and if there is any consistancy to it, IE metal, junk, yada yada.

Then refil the pump with fresh fluid, start up the truck, and let it run for a bit, then try and turn the wheel side to side.
Would be best if you had the front tires off the ground, or in the dirt.
Dirt would probably be the safest.
Once you feel them turning better, if they do. Turn it off, drain the pump again, and add new fluid.
When you turn the wheel, make sure you turn it all the way to each side a few times. This will cycle the fluid in the system and bleed out the air.

If the fluid you get out the second time is really really bad still, drain it again after that.

I hope this helps, thats the cheap way to find out whats wrong with the pump.

 

Use Mercon ATF for power steering fluid like your owners manual says. NOT parts store power steering fluid. That stuff is junk. I use synthetic mercon mobil 1 in everything on all mine.

You can use a turkey baster to suck it out and refill a few times too.

If it just locked on you I'd suspect the steering gear box first. Someone may have over adjusted it. Try replacing the fluid first.

 

Thank You do you know of a place I an find step by step instructions on draining the pump?

 

One thing I forgot was yesterday I made a U-turn and after that happened it was impossible to turn before hard but doable after u-
turn not so much.

 

yea, sounds like you got some fluid issues.


I never heard of running ATF in the PS box.
Maybe I should change mine.

 

It's supposed to be ATF. Type F ATF up to about 91 for Fords and mercon after. It's in the owners manuals. I think now they say Ford premium power steering fluid or some garbage. I still run ATF. It's a much better hydraulic fluid that that garbage with all the leak stop, seal swellers and other crap in it that isn't needed and will harm the pump after a while.
You can also put an inline tranny filter on the return line if you are really picky like me. I just change it and the fluid every couple years. I've never had a pump go bad on me either. Or a gear box.

 

nice. I think i'll be doing that here soon. just for something to do.

 

I forgot to say, grease up your front end real good and check for loose, broken or tight joints too. It may be something about to fall off of it but it sounds like the pump if you can still force it to turn. The gear box locking up would put you into a tree real fast. That sucks when it goes.

 

Yea. i forgot that as well. I figured somebody else would add it for me. haha.

simple things goign bad can make for bad steering sometimes, but not often.

 

drained with turkey baster added atf mercon and started it up wheels turned right away full range of motion. fluid i took out was black

 

Keep flushing it out like that till it stays red. You can just do a turkey baster a day till it's good. It might take a while but it's going to get a lot more than dumping it and refilling. Plus no air will get in the system.

 

I'm never sure how that stuff turns black, but it does.

I flushed my car's out 2 times, and put in red fluid from lucas, its black already. DOH!
Shoulda flushed it more i guess. i was running outa cheepie stuff.

Like Dan says. Just keep flushing and turning the wheels to cycle the system.

 

Oh, and be sure to hide the Turkey baster so the wife doesn't find it as well.

haha. =)