Power Steering Low Then High

:banghead: POWER STEERING ON TAURUS VERY HARD TO TURN WHEEL. CHECKED FLUID AND FLUID LEVEL OK WHEN NOT RUNNING. WHEN CAR IS RUNNING I ADDED MORE FLUID AND POWER STEERING WORKS BUT WHINES. WHEN SHUT CAR OFF IT SPEWS THE FLUID OUT THE VENT IN THE CAP.ALSO THE FLUID IS BLACK. THOUGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLEAR IN COLOR?? ANY HELP APPRECIATED. REPLACE PUMP???

More Info: I Plugged The Vent Cap And With Car Running Turned The Steering Wheel Back And Forth For An Extended Period Of Time And Continously Added More Power Steering Fluid(about A Qt). Now When Engine Is Shut Off It Cant Spew The Fluid Out The Vent. Im Concerned About Adding This Much Fluid. I Cannot See A Leak Anywhere. Not A Drop On The Ground. Where Does It Go? Could It Have That Much Air In The System?

i have the same problem. did you figure it out yet?

You are getting hot air bubbles in your power steering fluid

hmm, have you tried flushing the system. If you do that and it still is doing this, you might have blown the power steering pump. Honestly though i have never heard of this before, so this is only speculation.

"Im Concerned About Adding This Much Fluid. I Cannot See A Leak Anywhere. Not A Drop On The Ground. Where Does It Go? Could It Have That Much Air In The System?" If you don't see it leaking then it is in the steering system and as the air escapes you have to add fluid to replace the air and the whine indicates there is air in the system.

"ALSO THE FLUID IS BLACK. THOUGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLEAR IN COLOR??" You didn't say what year but the owners manual will tell you which automatic transmission fluid to use, Mercon, Mercon III or Mercon V and all of it is reddish-pink when new, not clear. I've seen old brown fluid but never black so it must have become VERY hot and have a strong burnt odor. Surprises me it got that hot and the seals in the pump aren't leaking.

Never heard of steering unit spewing out fluid so I suggest you go by the Ford place and ask them what gives. The wheel being hard to turn is of great concern and steering is a safety issue and strongly suggest you consult with the Ford dealer service dept FIRST thing in the morning.