99 power steering major problems

[ajkeller]

I have owned my windstar for 6 weeks, two weeks ago, I was pulling out of my parking spot, heard a loud whine and lost all power steering. My husband ( a motorcycle mechanic) declared that he could replace the pump, and while it would be pretty messy, it was not a hard job (bear in mind I say MOTORCYCLES!!! --side note of he is a jeep man, the only reason we got the Windstar is because our family has grown to 6, and we dont fit in the CJ or Cherokee). Sure enough, the old pump was bad, He got the new pump in, but it whined the whole time (yes, bleed it, ---I know) well, it got much worse and then started leaking fluid out the line too, now it is once again undriveable, because, while it does steer, the fluid just pours out of the line (connected to the pump) and the noise is worse than embarassing! He is positive that he did not loose any of the assembly (my first q to hime was missing washers or grommets...) He has thrown his hands up and declared it junk, saying it just has to go to the dealer (which we cannot afford)... this was after his suggestion of jb weld on the line and the pump... which I promptly nixed.... Any other ideas or suggestions on waht may need to be done? it did not leak before he "fixed" it and he is now thinking that the entire line needs to be replaced, but I am not so sure....(although I know less than him, I grew up around my grandfathers garage) Thanks for any ideas

[rodeo02]

Which line is leaking? These vans also have a single pass fin/tube cooler for the power steering fluid (mercon ATF) that runs along the bottom edge of the radiator. Check those lines as well. The p-steering systems on these vans are undersized and take quite a beating (being derived from the taurus passenger car). The pump started whining on my 2001 @ 34000 miles. The fluid was burnt & nasty. The dealer "flushed" it under warranty & it's been good ever since. Make sure not to run anything other than a high quality mercon rated ATF in these systems.
G/luck
Joel

[ajkeller]

The line that hooks into the pump is what is leaking, right where it is screwed into the pump. Called a few people and have more q's ..... The pump threads are definitely not stripped, one suggestion was that the new pump may be bad... but it is brand new, and the final idea is where the questions arise, I was told that the o- rings should be replaced, my husband said that there was one teflon washer on the outside of the line to seal the threads. I want to make sure there isnt something that they lost (add'l rings or such). Husband just said that ALL THREADS ARE FINE, it is the line into the nut that seems to be leaking, Is this a bad line? It was not leaking with the old pump. Any ideas are helpful ( I am determined hes going to fix it--- hes pretty mad at it though!) Thanks again!

[drdisque]

that line frequently fails right there and needs to be replaced. its kinda a bitch to replace because the other end goes to the rack.

[rroehl]

AJ!
I have the same damn problem- i am pretty mechanically inclined- however, this one is stumping me- my power steering pump is puking out fluid right at the fitting after i replaced the pump! A mechanic told me that the fitting has a bypass and if the rack / pinion is bad that the fluid will bypass through the fitting. hmmmm..... never heard of that before. does anyone know if this is a common hydraulic engineering practice?
doesnt make sense- it seems so simple to fix a leak but it is a special odd ass fitting-. (im thinking jb weld too). never the less- a rack - pinion costs aboutt $300 (who knows what labor is) ANY IDEAS???? to replace the rack looks like a weeks worth of work!!
HELP!!!

[irish30]

There is a white o-ring seal that is teflon. When ever a Ford power steering line is removed or replaced this o-ring must be replaced. If it is damaged during the install it needs to be replaced again. This where your leak is from, that's why it looks like the line is leaking. The fluid goes past the o-ring to the sscrew fitting and out.

[agape]

I would assume you have solved your leaking problem by now, considering the date of your first post. However, just in case you haven't. As indicated there is a white o-ring you must replace. When you go to install it, you will find it seems to small to fit over the threads. I checked with Ford dealer mechanic, thinking I had the wrong size as there are two sizes of thatparticular o-ring. You have to stretch it by placing it over a tapered socket or something like that to enlarge it. It will then slip over the threads of the fitting into the groove. I had no trouble with leaking when reasembling.