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1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series All Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series models

problem with power steering

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Old Mar 26, 2004 | 10:40 AM
  #1  
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problem with power steering

I have a 99 ford ranger sport and i took it to get new tires put on and when they put the new tires on the front, the front end vibrated really bad when I turned it to the left or right. It also does it when I am driving and hit a bump or something. They changed the power steering fluid and it works a little better but not much. I need to know what type of power steering fluid is supposed to be used, or what I am suppose to use for it and what the problem is. I had my power steering flushed back in August of last year and since then I have had little problems, but when they put the new tires on something went bad and it got flushed and new fluid put back in, but does not work as good. Is it possible that someone put the wrong fluid in?
 
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Old Mar 26, 2004 | 01:03 PM
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Interesting...I have a new Ranger and I have a "stutter" when cutting the tires left or right too. Sometimes it acts like it's going to die when I'm trying to turn into a parking spot. I wonder if our problems could be related? I'm trying to self-diagnose it so I know what to tell the dealer when I take it in.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2004 | 02:38 PM
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I would have the tires re-balanced with any vibration problems.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2004 | 06:00 PM
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I'm not sure why or how it happens but if I turn my steering wheel with the engine off (front tires on the ground and turning steering wheel end to end) I get a bad vibration when making corners later. Usually it ends up being only left turns or right turns but not both. I also find that the fluid level rises in the power steering tank (after turning wheels with engine off). My guess is that air gets in the system somehow. The vibration problem eventually clears up. And yes I would agree its more like a stutter. Its like the power steering is pulsing on and off.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2004 | 06:19 PM
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When you turn the steering wheel with the engine off, the steering gear acts as a pump and sends air back up the return line and usually will cause a burp out of the reservoir cap.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2004 | 08:45 PM
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Originally Posted by WXboy
Interesting...I have a new Ranger and I have a "stutter" when cutting the tires left or right too. Sometimes it acts like it's going to die when I'm trying to turn into a parking spot. I wonder if our problems could be related? I'm trying to self-diagnose it so I know what to tell the dealer when I take it in.
This sounds like a bad power steering pressure switch. If it is bad, the idle will be affected, and can stutter or stall the engine when the wheel is turned.
 
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Old Mar 27, 2004 | 09:48 AM
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hreed. What is the pressure switch for? And what conditions make it active?
 
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Old May 4, 2004 | 09:02 PM
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I am having the exact same problem with mine, It just started today with the exact same symptoms as garymocwi described. with the engine off and pivoting the tires (front end lifted of course) I can hear air squishing around back and forth.

what I am wondering is where is the air coming from??? I am going to take it to my mechanic tomrrow to see what he says,..

I read in another post that it may be related to old fluid and some sort of valve that gets built up with crud...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...steering+pump+ anyways, I'll try to keep you guys posted..
jim


p.s. My ranger has 140,000 KM on it
 
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Old May 4, 2004 | 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by garymocwi
hreed. What is the pressure switch for? And what conditions make it active?
The P/S pressure switch adjust the idle (gives higher idle) for the extra load placed on the engine by the steering action.

It's like when you turn on A/C.....idle drops but the computer gets a sensor reading that makes up for that.
 
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