What are the signs of a bad power steering pump? Mine makes alot of moaning and groaning noises to me. It also seems harder to turn than it should to me. Both my Toyota van and my old Chevy truck turn easier. Just curious if a heavy wheel was common on these models. It is a 2000 4x4 extended cab. Thanks.

 

My Power Stering Makes A Heck Of Alot Of Noise Also But It Still Works Its Kinda Of Anoying But It Still Does The Job Buy A Used One And When U Repace It Make Sure All The Air Is Out Of The System But I Dont Have A Heavy Wheel At All

 

mines real noisy too but have no problems with it what so ever. All i can really say is welcome to the world of ford power steering pumps. A lot if not most make a lot of noise. As for it not turning as easy as it should i wouldnt know, i dont feel that in mine.

 

My new Ranger 4x4 surely steers more firmly than any sedan that I have driven. Have you topped off the pump lately? If you do please check your owner's manual for the correct fluid. You be suprised how many pumps have be destroyed by mixing power steering fluid with Mercon

 

Mine is making noice to but it turns the way it should some times it stops for a few days. Ill start getting worried when it goes out it is too cold to mess with it now.

 

Well I've had luck with cleaning the P/S system with SeaFoam Trans Tune, then flushing the system with fresh fluid.

I did this with stands under the frame, so the front wheels are off the ground.

Disconnected the pump return line at the cooler to empty the pump, reconnected the line & added the TransTune to the pump resivoir, topped off the pump with fresh fluid & let her idle while turning the steering wheel slowly lock to lock about 15 min.

Stopped the engine, drained the pump, plugged the return line at the cooler.
Then ran a scrap hose from the cooler into a catch bucket.

Refilled the pump with fresh fluid, opened the remainder of my containers & placed them where handy, had the wife start & idle the engine & I poured in fresh fluid as she slowly turned the wheels lock to lock, as the old fluid was pumped into the catch bucket.

This did a good job of cleaning the system out & quieting the pump down, but I let the pump fluid get low & got a lot of air in the Ranger & it took about two days for it to work itself out.

I would recommend you take plenty of time to work ALL the air out. If you don't it can cuse a bad wheel shimmy, it did for me in the Ranger.

This worked good on My 94 Taurus, which had a noisey pump & stickey rack, has been almost 2 years on the Taurus now, no more pump noise & no more stickey rack.

It did pump a lot of black sediment out of the Taurus, though the Ranger looked good.

If your doing it yourself, you could take the serpetine belt off & turn the P/S pump with a vairable speed drill motor & socket to fit the pumps pulley nut. This would allow you to better control pump fluid level, so you don't get air in the system during the pump out flush.

If you do get air in the fluid, SLOWLY turn the steering lock to lock until the air bubbles in the pump resivoir subside.

This should quieten the pump & free up the rack, if dirty fluid & deposits are your problem.

Worked great on the Taurus.

Works great on gummed up trannys as a flush just before a complete fluid & filter change.

It's a detegent that won't get after seals, gaskets, hoses, or composite plastic parts.

BTW you can check the "SeaFoam Trans Tune" out here, to see if it's for you.
http://www.seafoamsales.com/transTuneTech.htm Most autoparts stores like Advance Auto, AutoZone, ect, stock it.

Let us know what you decide to do & how it works.