2000 Windstar powersteering

Hello,

My 2000 windstar broke down this past weekend. One of the pulleys that the serpentine belt goes around had to be replaced (this has happened before). We had the van towed to a ford dealer and had the pulley replaced. After they replaced the pulley there is a horrible noise coming from the front end when the wheels are turned right or left. The noise occurs when the van is parked or moving slowly, and is much worse when it is turned to the left versus the right. None of these noises existed before this weekend. It is sort of a rubber on rubber and whining noise.

They said that they flushed the power steering fluid and that there were metal shavings in the fluid. Now the say that we are looking at 1600-2000 dollars to get it fixed, but that isn't even a firm estimate since we didn't authorize the tear down.

I have read that others have fixed issues by purging air from the power steering system. However, since the dealer did the flush, I am not optimistic that this should work in my case.

We have had other front end work done on this van, and the noises aren't the clunking/thudding we had before.

At this point, I am trying to figure out if there is anything that might be easily fixable to cure this van. At this time pouring $2000 into it isn't cost effective for me.


Thanks for any advice or suggestions you might send my way.
Mary Stevens

Mary,

I cannot fathom what would cost anywhere near $2000 for power steering system repair...did they say what this included?
I would recommend taking it to a reputable shop for a second opinion. It might be as simple as needing a new power steering pump. I am far from an expert on power steering units but either something was damaged during the belt breakage/repair, or the flush pushed the pump over the edge.
Best of luck.

where does the noise sound like its coming from?like from p/s pump or
from the wheels? can you here it with the hood open if so where?

"Flushes" = money for the dealers! They love 'em! There's nothing they won't flush for you. And then they are available to repair whatever they've just flushed ... because its very likely there will be issues even if there were none before the flush.

You can be sure the flushing agent they used is full of metal ... from the last two dozen vehicles they flushed. OK, I'll try to get down from my soapbox.

You obviously now may have a steering system issue. Unfortunately, the fluid circulates in the pump, hoses, reservoir (yours may be pump mounted) and the steering rack. What can't be cleaned thoroughly needs to be replaced ... But it needs to be "all at once" to get rid of contaminants ... by someone trustworthy ... your dealer? .... I think not.

I haven't priced these items in the aftermarket, but I would expect total to be less than $500.

A-1 Cardone STRONGLY recommends a inline filter be installed when the power steering pump is replaced.
This is due to the fact that junk in the fluid system can damage the replacement pump.

I posted pictures that the link in my signature will take you to that shows this filter, made by Magnefine, but sold under a variety of names.
I bought mine from Rockauto.
The filter removes the junk from the new fluid, that can still work loose from inside places in the system.
It does not need changing very often, once you flush the old fluid out....and have new fluid in there.

I also show some of what is involved in replacing the power steering pump on my '96.

Later years have the power steering fluid resivoir mounted separately from the pump.
In the remote mount, the resivoir has a screen inside that is known to become clogged, and need cleaning.

The correct fluid to use for the power steering would be Mercon (now Mercon V) rated ATF.