One last symptom on my 2000 ffv

[taurusffv]

When the car is turned tight right or left
in parking lot situations
the sound I hear matches the sound
of rubber being fatigued.

The best way I can explain this
is if you are old enough to remember
the little triangular windows up front
where you unlatched them and pushed them open on a pivot-
the black rubber gasket would make this sound
as the window was swiveled over it?

I check the steering fluid and occasionally top it off. Any other explanations?

[shorod]

Is the sound only evident while the steering is being turned, or will it do it if you hold the steering wheel stationary?

Some Fords have had issues with outer tie rod ends and/or ball joints going dry and squeaking. One way to isolate this type of noise would be to pierce one rubber boot at a time and spray a bit of aerosol white lithium grease into the boot. Do one at a time and see if the noise changes or goes away temporarily. By doing this to one component at a time allows you to isolate which part is causing the noise.

However, if the noise you hear can be heard when the steering wheel is held in one spot, then is sounds more like you have an issue with the power steering pump or a belt slipping under the load.

Does the noise get louder if you turn the steering wheel to either of the locks (all the way in one direction) and continue as long as you hold the steering at lock?

-Rod