Is my power steering pump bad?

[tylerdurden2816]

The Marauder has been getting tough to turn the wheel the last couple days on and off. Right turns have been harder than left for some reason, and it's not always bad, just comes and goes. I checked yesterday night, the power steering fluid is still at Max. So if it's not low on fluid, does that mean the pump must be bad? Or is there anything else I should look at before replacing the power steering pump?

[fastblackmerc]

The Marauder has been getting tough to turn the wheel the last couple days on and off. Right turns have been harder than left for some reason, and it's not always bad, just comes and goes. I checked yesterday night, the power steering fluid is still at Max. So if it's not low on fluid, does that mean the pump must be bad? Or is there anything else I should look at before replacing the power steering pump?

Could be one of two things.

The rack is on it's way out

The pressure switch is either bad or the contacts are dirty.

The switch is located on the drivers side of the rack. Take off the connector and clean it.

[Zack]

Or a bad steering shaft.

[fastblackmerc]

Or a bad steering shaft.

Forgot about the shaft binding......

[loud2004marquis]

Plus one on the steering shaft, try spraying the u-joints with some pb-blaster. Worked for me.

[tylerdurden2816]

So either the entire steering rack is crapping out, the pressure switch is bad or dirty, or the steering shaft could be bad? I'm hoping for a dirty pressure switch or the pump being the problem! The car has 140K miles on it, I guess it could be any of the above.

[massacre]

Is the P/S pump whining?

[tylerdurden2816]

No it's not. I just read this article for the non-mechanically inclined, such as myself

http://www.ehow.com/how_5880173_diagnose-car-axle-problems.html

This was number 4:
Listen for a clicking sound when you turn corners in your car. If you turn the car left or right while driving and you hear a clicking sound, one or both of your axles is about to fail and may need to be replaced.

Mine has been clicking for awhile now. Thought it was just a tie-rod end or something. So I'm now assuming one or both axles are bad? would this explain the difficulty I've been having turning the wheel sometimes?

[Zack]

So either the entire steering rack is crapping out, the pressure switch is bad or dirty, or the steering shaft could be bad? I'm hoping for a dirty pressure switch or the pump being the problem! The car has 140K miles on it, I guess it could be any of the above.

Its most likely the steering shaft if you've driven in chicago winters. Any further talk about it is wasting time. You need to get your hands dirty now and find the problem.

[justbob]

No it's not. I just read this article for the non-mechanically inclined, such as myself

http://www.ehow.com/how_5880173_diagnose-car-axle-problems.html

This was number 4:
Listen for a clicking sound when you turn corners in your car. If you turn the car left or right while driving and you hear a clicking sound, one or both of your axles is about to fail and may need to be replaced.

Mine has been clicking for awhile now. Thought it was just a tie-rod end or something. So I'm now assuming one or both axles are bad? would this explain the difficulty I've been having turning the wheel sometimes?


Great find! If you had a front wheel drive with CV joints..

+1 in the steering shaft.


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[tylerdurden2816]

Its most likely the steering shaft if you've driven in chicago winters.

As far as I know it's always been a midwest car, bought it just over the Indiana border. Where I can I get info on checking it/replacing it? Is there a video or sticky? I'm whatcha might call "mechanically challenged".

[fastblackmerc]

As far as I know it's always been a midwest car, bought it just over the Indiana border. Where I can I get info on checking it/replacing it? Is there a video or sticky? I'm whatcha might call "mechanically challenged".

Find the steering shaft where it comes out of the firewall, follow it to the front of the ca, see the knuckle / u-joint? That's what were talking about. Spray that with some WD-40.

[loud2004marquis]

see the knuckle / u-joint? That's what were talking about. Spray that with some WD-40.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/987464/fullsize/123-egr-woes.jpg

[MERCULES]

I had a similar problem and sprayed some Sea Foam deep creep penetrating oil on the steering shaft, knuckle area so to speak, and it fixed it immediately.

Same idea as above although WD 40 won't last as long in my opinion.

[marauderthis]

If lubricating the knuckle doesn't solve the problem then denergize the system by removing one of the cables from the battery terminal. Let it sit for a few minutes then reattach the cable. A mechanic in Dothan Al. showed me the trick - It worked for me.
PS if this solves your problem and for some reason your AC then goes to S___T dont blame me.

[RF Overlord]

http://www.ehow.com/how_5880173_diagnose-car-axle-problems.html
Listen for a clicking sound when you turn corners in your car. If you turn the car left or right while driving and you hear a clicking sound, one or both of your axles is about to fail and may need to be replaced.That applies to FWD cars only. Our cars don't have "axles" in the front.

Most likely culprit is, as the others mentioned, the u-joint in the steering shaft.

You *could* have a bad rack, but that's way less likely.

[tylerdurden2816]

PS if this solves your problem and for some reason your AC then goes to S___T dont blame me.

But i just fixed the AC!!!

Also, thanx for the Pic, that's what I need,lots and lots of pics lol.

[SOSA03]

Check the tie rod bearings

[Marauderjack]

Check the tie rod bearings

WTF are "Tie Rod Bearings"??:confused:

[fastblackmerc]

WTF are "Tie Rod Bearings"??:confused:

You know...... the things that make the tie rods go round and round..... silly!

[tylerdurden2816]

Check the tie rod bearings

Please don't tease the mechanically illiterate:(

So we sprayed the hell out of the U-Joint, didn't work, so then we tried disconnecting the battery, reconnecting a few minutes later, that didn't work either. And we couldn't find the Pressure Sensor. Anyone have a pic of one on the car? Or details of its location, small sensors are hard to find! Also, is there one or two of them?

[MERCMAN]

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/987464/fullsize/123-egr-woes.jpg

OMG!!! That is pretty ugly. Salt is NOT your friend. My steering shaft still has the golden color like it came from the factory. Of course my MM has never been in snow or salt.

[tylerdurden2816]

That's pretty much how mine looked too, but alas, it needing lubrication was not the problem.

[SOSA03]

Maybe its the steering shaft fluid

[Motorhead350]

WD-40 will not work more than a day.

I applied oil that's sold in a mini tub that you need to take out with your fingers. I am sorry I do not recall the type, but Valvoline sells it.

Be sure to wipe it off the headers/manifolds. If not, it will smoke, smell and may cause a fire.

[massacre]

Isn't the pressure switch on the rack?

[tylerdurden2816]

WD-40 will not work more than a day.

I applied oil that's sold in a mini tub that you need to take out with your fingers. I am sorry I do not recall the type, but Valvoline sells it.


I can try some heavier grease, I'd love if it works. It really seems just that turning the wheel to the right is difficult, left hand turns don't seem to be having any power steering problems. That's why I asked if it might have two pressure sensors, maybe the right hand turn one is on the fritz and not the left? But I wasn't able to find one let alone find two. Harder when you don't know what it looks like!

[Zack]

Some of the responses lately are shameful.

[Zack]

I can try some heavier grease, I'd love if it works. It really seems just that turning the wheel to the right is difficult, left hand turns don't seem to be having any power steering problems. That's why I asked if it might have two pressure sensors, maybe the right hand turn one is on the fritz and not the left? But I wasn't able to find one let alone find two. Harder when you don't know what it looks like!

The internet will not fix a binding steering shaft.
Remove it and check it by hand, or drop it off at a shop.

[tylerdurden2816]

The internet will not fix a binding steering shaft.
Remove it and check it by hand, or drop it off at a shop.

A wheel that's tough to turn in one direction, but not the other, is a binding steering shaft?

[Zack]

A wheel that's tough to turn in one direction, but not the other, is a binding steering shaft?

Yes, it could be a steering shaft.
Start taking our advice.

[tylerdurden2816]

Yes, it could be a steering shaft.
Start taking our advice.

"Could Be's" cost about $120 an hour. I just want to exhaust cheaper solutions before taking it in. This car has been nothing but a money pit.

[MERCULES]

There have been some issues with a heat shield binding the steering, not sure if that is related to your problem?

[fastblackmerc]

There have been some issues with a heat shield binding the steering, not sure if that is related to your problem?

What heat shield?

[fastblackmerc]

Yes, it could be a steering shaft.
Start taking our advice.


"Could Be's" cost about $120 an hour. I just want to exhaust cheaper solutions before taking it in. This car has been nothing but a money pit.

There is a u-joint in the steering shaft. It's binding. Get it replaced.

[tylerdurden2816]

There is a u-joint in the steering shaft.

Is the U-joint a seperate piece from the steering shaft? Or is it part of the shaft that runs up to the steering wheel?

[fastblackmerc]

Is the U-joint a seperate piece from the steering shaft? Or is it part of the shaft that runs up to the steering wheel?

Take a look at post# 13. Tell me if you see a u-joint.

[fastblackmerc]

Available from Rock Auto........ $114.00

[tylerdurden2816]

I do see it. The top half looks like it's all one piece with the shaft coming from the steering wheel. I'm guessing that it's not though?

[massacre]

"Could Be's" cost about $120 an hour. I just want to exhaust cheaper solutions before taking it in. This car has been nothing but a money pit.

Maybe sell Marauder, buy Honda Civic?

[Zack]

I do see it. The top half looks like it's all one piece with the shaft coming from the steering wheel. I'm guessing that it's not though?

Someone posted a picture for you above, yet you still can't find it? Google Marauder Steering Shaft, how can it get any easier with the internet at your fingertips???

You have an 11 year old car with a replacement engine and high miles.
If you know nothing about mechanics and don't like shop rates, may I suggest buying a car with a warranty or actually reading our suggestions and applying them to your car....

[tylerdurden2816]

Someone posted a picture for you above, yet you still can't find it?

I literally just said I saw it. I also mentioned I tried lubricating it with no results, so yes, I know exactly where it is.

[Bruce Wayne]

There is a safety recall for the steering shaft on the crown vics, I received one from Ford. Don't know why they haven't issued a recall for the Marauder, since it is the same part. We have shipped out hundreds of them to dealers

[massacre]

There was a recall for Mustangs too IIRC

[tylerdurden2816]

There is a safety recall for the steering shaft on the crown vics, I received one from Ford. Don't know why they haven't issued a recall for the Marauder, since it is the same part. We have shipped out hundreds of them to dealers

I just heard about that actually! I was price checking the U-joint at the parts counter here, I thought w/ my discount it might be close to Rock's price. Nope. But when the guy looked it up he mentioned a recall on something in the steering for CVs. So I double checked with service for recalls, still no Marauder recall regarding steering, just the light module.