I have noticed the last few months especially in colder weather that the power steering is very stiff when turning. It is fine going straight ahead, but when you make a right or left turn the wheel fights you and then you have to deliberately turn back to straight because the wheel doesn't just spin back like normal. Is this just because of the colder winter this year? I don't recall this problem last winter. Just turned 40K and getting ready for a service so I will have them check it. A search here turned up nothing.

 

Check the steering shaft joint and knuckle ( where the upper and lower shaft join ) I had this happen on my 06 F150 and what happened was the steering shaft knuckle corroded and caused it to bind. Seeing as you're in the Berkshires I'm sure the roads are treated with all sorts of crap and the salt just eats away at stuff.


Matt

 

Thanks for the tip.

 

I took it to the dealer today. They've had it all day and I haven't heard a thing. Hope they checked it this morning when it was cold. Drove it yesterday in mid 30's and the steering seems almost normal. Definitely steers hard in the cold. We'll see.

 

Dealer said he could find nothing wrong with the steering. Been driving it for 3 weeks since then and the last week the stiff steering is back. Also engine light is on only a few hundred miles after a dealer service. Puzzling. Fuel filler cap is tight I checked it.

 

Steering seemed to be back to normal for almost 2 months then all of a sudden it was seized up pretty good. I was afraid to drive it it was so stiff. Got it into the dealer this week and they found that the U-Joints in the lower steering shaft assembly were seized. They replaced the entire lower steering shaft assembly. They also replaced a right lower ball joint. The engine light was due to an o2 sensor that they also replaced. All under the Ford extended warranty only cost me $100 deductable for all. I haven't driven it yet, but my son says it drives like a new car again.