Plug on power steering circuit
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From: Sweden
Plug on power steering circuit
I was trying to further investigate this mysterious intermittent noise on my '87 E150 302 van and found there's a valve or switch or something on one of the power steering lines whose harness plug had simply fallen off. I put it back on.
What does it do?? Is it some kind of sensor for steering pressure? Is it a valve to cut back on steering boost at highway speeds? I was not aware the model had either. My vehicle doesn't even have a Check Engine light so I don't even know where such a sensor would go to.
What does it do?? Is it some kind of sensor for steering pressure? Is it a valve to cut back on steering boost at highway speeds? I was not aware the model had either. My vehicle doesn't even have a Check Engine light so I don't even know where such a sensor would go to.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 333
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From: Toledo, Ohio
Possibly a throttle bump device for slow speed manuevering, bumps up engine idle while turning at slow speeds as in a parking space? Your van surely has a check engine light, maybe the bulb is burned out? The light will turn on with key On, engine off. On the dash display below speedometer......between turn signal indicators as I recall. I had an '85 e-150 a long time ago. ( on the 3rd & 4th Ford van since then )
What kind of noise?
John
What kind of noise?
John
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From: Sweden
This one:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ird-noise.html
I still can't figure it out. It's hard to describe, it comes and goes, and I can't pin down what it sounds like. I kinda wanted to interpret it as a bearing squeal, but it's also kind of a bit like a flapping/rushing sound. I can't readily picture in my mind exactly what it sounds like so I can't redescribe what I can't remember. Frustrating. It's sort of variable by itself and gave some unclear responses when I pulled tricks of putting it in neutral, giving it some gas in neutral, etc.
I did note that the coolant had been topped before leaving for that trip, and the sound appeared on the way back, and it seemed lower than I left it when I checked later. So I had an escaping cooling hitting the fan or belt as a theory. But it doesn't seem like it now.
It's not the wheel bearing because putting it in neutral makes it go away. Pretty sure the sound's from the left side, which suggests cracked exhaust manifold, AC compressor, power steering pump, or something inside the engine I don't understand. Maybe water pump is possible too. Noise didn't change when I turned the AC on and off. Didn't seem to change when I steered either but I was limited in how much I could do on the highway here.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ird-noise.html
I still can't figure it out. It's hard to describe, it comes and goes, and I can't pin down what it sounds like. I kinda wanted to interpret it as a bearing squeal, but it's also kind of a bit like a flapping/rushing sound. I can't readily picture in my mind exactly what it sounds like so I can't redescribe what I can't remember. Frustrating. It's sort of variable by itself and gave some unclear responses when I pulled tricks of putting it in neutral, giving it some gas in neutral, etc.
I did note that the coolant had been topped before leaving for that trip, and the sound appeared on the way back, and it seemed lower than I left it when I checked later. So I had an escaping cooling hitting the fan or belt as a theory. But it doesn't seem like it now.
It's not the wheel bearing because putting it in neutral makes it go away. Pretty sure the sound's from the left side, which suggests cracked exhaust manifold, AC compressor, power steering pump, or something inside the engine I don't understand. Maybe water pump is possible too. Noise didn't change when I turned the AC on and off. Didn't seem to change when I steered either but I was limited in how much I could do on the highway here.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 333
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From: Toledo, Ohio
How about catalytic convertor heat shield or y pipe shields?
There is also a rubber splash flap under the radiator and also aone between the radiator and engine on the passenger side as I recall, are they loose?
A mechanics stethoscope would work great in this situation. Harbor Freight or your auto parts store. I use on to pin point exhaust leaks and also vacuum leaks. I once found a major vacuum leak on my '98 van that a reputable shop couldn't find with a $3000+
smoke machine that was supposed to do the trick.......
John
There is also a rubber splash flap under the radiator and also aone between the radiator and engine on the passenger side as I recall, are they loose?
A mechanics stethoscope would work great in this situation. Harbor Freight or your auto parts store. I use on to pin point exhaust leaks and also vacuum leaks. I once found a major vacuum leak on my '98 van that a reputable shop couldn't find with a $3000+
smoke machine that was supposed to do the trick.......
John
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From: Sweden
The noise is on the left (driver's) side and front of the car. So cat and such are not possible.
That flap under the engine came apart long ago and has been long gone! Got in the way of oil changes, maintenance and such way too often and it was coming apart anyways. But no, it's kinda got a squealing component to it anyways.
The noise has so far been too fleeting to reproduce for long or while parked. I'm just driving down the highway and start to hear this subtle "hey, WTF is that?" noise for a few minutes. It's pretty disturbing just because I know it's not normal, I mean even if it's just the power steering pump thinking about giving up this is a huge towing bill and if I'm outta town with the parts store closed it's more. So I need to find out just what it is.
That flap under the engine came apart long ago and has been long gone! Got in the way of oil changes, maintenance and such way too often and it was coming apart anyways. But no, it's kinda got a squealing component to it anyways.
The noise has so far been too fleeting to reproduce for long or while parked. I'm just driving down the highway and start to hear this subtle "hey, WTF is that?" noise for a few minutes. It's pretty disturbing just because I know it's not normal, I mean even if it's just the power steering pump thinking about giving up this is a huge towing bill and if I'm outta town with the parts store closed it's more. So I need to find out just what it is.
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From: Sweden
Ah think I got it. Was still hearing it when I pulled off the highway to a stoplight, threw it in Neutral real quick, and turned the steering hard. Pretty sure I heard the sound get louder then went away and I couldn't check it more. Looks like sound builds up when it's at high speed and the steering's not being used much.
I guess that's power steering pump #3 for me then... crap, like 2 years between pump replacement here.
I guess that's power steering pump #3 for me then... crap, like 2 years between pump replacement here.
