powersteering whine
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From: sperker vill in south stereoland
powersteering whine
i have a 94 3.0 with 120,000 miles i got it from the used dealer my father works at for 500 bucks and its really a step up from my last car. but the power steering is kinda loud, it not really bad juts barley noticable. is this normall for these vans cuase my buddys 88 did the same thing even after the new pump went in cuase it went bad once. im just curious cuase if the pump is going bad i want to change it before it goes out on the road or somthing. cuase where i live no power steering at 50 mph would be very bad, yeah very bad. definitly
anyways if anyone else has noticed this and had it check on thier van it would be very helpful.
anyways if anyone else has noticed this and had it check on thier van it would be very helpful.
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powersteering whine
An aluminum body and plastic reservoir makes for a loud ps pump. I've changed my pump, rack, hoses, bleed the system, and even performed a vacuum bleed with a special cap for the vac pump, but still the same noise. Usually, if you turn the wheel in the parking lot and people are jumping out of your way, its time to change to pump. Otherwise, leave it alone. It's nice to see that the new/used pumps come pretagged with a notice that it takes 500 miles for noise to diminish. More like after 500 seconds you have a hearing loss, then it becomes less noticeable.
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From: sperker vill in south stereoland
powersteering whine
so its just normall then. good thank god great jesus o lord cuase i cant afford to put in a new power steering pump right now im totally cashed out. thanks alot for you help. you have saved me from a twenty dollar garage bill to have it looked at to.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: South Carolina
powersteering whine
Every ford vehicle I've come across from this group of model years has had a power-steering whine. Both of the aerostars i've owned, as well as several trucks and taurus's.
Like Torque1st said it MAY be a sign of wear, but if it is not really loud I wouldn't worry about it. If you feel a heavy vibration when steering accompanied by a LOUD whine then it is definately bad.
If it is just a slight whine it is most likely just something you'll have to tolerate. A whine can also indicate low fluid level...
We had to get a new one (pump) and it does the same whining the old one did when it was working right... One of the hoses leaked out real bad and cooked the pump... froze it right up.. some people just don't know when a noise is really bad and need to pull over and check it out.... MOM!!! The next day the van would not start because the pump had froze!!!!!
The point is unless the noise gets loud and really annoying you just have to live with it.
-Mike-
Like Torque1st said it MAY be a sign of wear, but if it is not really loud I wouldn't worry about it. If you feel a heavy vibration when steering accompanied by a LOUD whine then it is definately bad.
If it is just a slight whine it is most likely just something you'll have to tolerate. A whine can also indicate low fluid level...
We had to get a new one (pump) and it does the same whining the old one did when it was working right... One of the hoses leaked out real bad and cooked the pump... froze it right up.. some people just don't know when a noise is really bad and need to pull over and check it out.... MOM!!! The next day the van would not start because the pump had froze!!!!!
The point is unless the noise gets loud and really annoying you just have to live with it.
-Mike-
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Joined: Sep 2001
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powersteering whine
I have enough years of experience with hydraulics to diagnose pump problems on teardown. The problem comes from these systems being designed without a filter to last XX number of miles. Some systems do OK, most do not. If I was buying a new vehicle today I would have an inline filter installed in the PS and auto tranny cooling lines right at the dealer. Ford dealers have a nice little kit for doing this.
The "whine" noise comes from hydraulic fluid bypassing from the high pressure side back to the low pressure side thru scratches in the valve plate caused by wear particles. The "low fluid howl" is caused by air cavitation and is producing thousands of wear particles every minute which go on to erode the rest of the system.
The "whine" noise comes from hydraulic fluid bypassing from the high pressure side back to the low pressure side thru scratches in the valve plate caused by wear particles. The "low fluid howl" is caused by air cavitation and is producing thousands of wear particles every minute which go on to erode the rest of the system.
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powersteering whine
Torque1st::: Would you recommend PS fluid change every so often, and can i get a in-line filter from my local discount parts or from the ford dealer?
Thanks...
Thanks...
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powersteering whine
OLD MAN: yeah mine is a loud one at no load and when the wheel is turned even slightly, gets really loud. This is my 2nd ford rebuilt and all 3 sounded the same. Sad but true.
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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powersteering whine
Unfortunately it has been my experience with reman power steering pumps that all they do to them is clean & paint them and maybe put new bearings in.
THEY DO NOT REFURBISH/REMAN THE PUMP MECHANISM!!!
Your only hope is a new pump
Many new/reman pumps require that a filter be installed in order to preserve the warranty. This information is on one of those little slips of paper in the box that everyone throws away...
You can get a filter kit from Ford that has some fittings hose and clamps for installing on a tranny. Your parts house has the filter alone but you will need a couple of clamps to insert it in the return line. Here are some part numbers etc from my files:
WIX TRANSMISSION / POWER STEERING FILTER
#51964 OLD NUMBER 1999
#58964 NEW NUMBER 2001
DESCRIPTION: 200 PSI WORKING, PRESSURE RELIEVED, MAGNETIC,
CHANGE YEARLY OR 12000 MILES
FORD EQUIVALENT FILTER KIT #XC3Z-7B155-AA
FORD FILTER ALONE #XC3P-7B155-BA
-Flush out the system with the old pump running new fluid thru. Try some of the seal conditioner fluid that has some solvents in it. Just don't use it for the final fill.
-Replace the pump and install the filter
The power steering gear is famous for collecting little pieces of grit and these will continue to cause damage until they are removed by the filter.
Good Luck!
THEY DO NOT REFURBISH/REMAN THE PUMP MECHANISM!!!
Your only hope is a new pump
Many new/reman pumps require that a filter be installed in order to preserve the warranty. This information is on one of those little slips of paper in the box that everyone throws away...
You can get a filter kit from Ford that has some fittings hose and clamps for installing on a tranny. Your parts house has the filter alone but you will need a couple of clamps to insert it in the return line. Here are some part numbers etc from my files:
WIX TRANSMISSION / POWER STEERING FILTER
#51964 OLD NUMBER 1999
#58964 NEW NUMBER 2001
DESCRIPTION: 200 PSI WORKING, PRESSURE RELIEVED, MAGNETIC,
CHANGE YEARLY OR 12000 MILES
FORD EQUIVALENT FILTER KIT #XC3Z-7B155-AA
FORD FILTER ALONE #XC3P-7B155-BA
-Flush out the system with the old pump running new fluid thru. Try some of the seal conditioner fluid that has some solvents in it. Just don't use it for the final fill.
-Replace the pump and install the filter
The power steering gear is famous for collecting little pieces of grit and these will continue to cause damage until they are removed by the filter.
Good Luck!
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Joined: May 2003
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powersteering whine
Thanks Torque1st.
Didn't mean to upset you:
The last time I paid $250+ was when I was working 80hrs + weekly in 1999 and told the dealer to stick in a new pump only to discover the 'R' after the invoice part number while driving home. When asked... they said "Oh yeah, its rebuilt. They don't make new ones for your aerostar anymore..."
They are all loud and I appreciate the advise keeping this one going.
Jonathan
Didn't mean to upset you:
THEY DO NOT REFURBISH/REMAN THE PUMP MECHANISM!!!
They are all loud and I appreciate the advise keeping this one going.
Jonathan
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powersteering whine
Not upset, just making a point!
They are loud because they are worn out, right out of the reman box. I have been tempted at times to just buy small hyd pumps and fab up a relief valve and brackets for different applications. Remote mount a reservoir.
They are loud because they are worn out, right out of the reman box. I have been tempted at times to just buy small hyd pumps and fab up a relief valve and brackets for different applications. Remote mount a reservoir.
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From: LaSalle monroe
powersteering whine
Hello, my power steering pump on my 2000 windstar sounds like a grizzly bear is inside it. Yes, I know from listening to you guys it is bad. However, I can not stop thinking about rebuilding it myself, is it impossible.
thank you
slim
thank you
slim
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From: LaSalle monroe
powersteering whine
Torque1st hello again, thanks for all you knowledge. Changing my power steering went very smooth thanks to you pointers. Unfortunately, I could only find a remanufactured pump. Pressed for time, and against your advice I bought a remanufactured pump.
Further, I would like to add a couple of pointers of my own. I have a feeling a lot of pumps are changed that are not bad. I think the screen in my reservoir was plugged and was starving the system of fluid. Finally, I was lucky a friend recommended a was a "power steering pump pulley puller", no one should try to remove that pulley without using the puller. Swapping the pulley was the hardest part.
Further, I would like to add a couple of pointers of my own. I have a feeling a lot of pumps are changed that are not bad. I think the screen in my reservoir was plugged and was starving the system of fluid. Finally, I was lucky a friend recommended a was a "power steering pump pulley puller", no one should try to remove that pulley without using the puller. Swapping the pulley was the hardest part.
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