2005 Town Car Rack hanging up

[Becki527]

Hello everyone, this is my first post on this forum, I've been looking for one of these forums for a long time, currently on the ford truck forum. These are great!
My question is actually coming from my father. He is not computer literate. He has a 2005 Lincoln Town Car that recently has noticed that the rack is hanging up after completing a turn to straightening the car back out. This happens on both left and right turns. He has had the rack checked out and no one can seem to find a problem but they do agree something is wrong. Has anyone else ran into this problem or can anyone give us an idea what else we can check.
Thanks :Becki

[junk yard doggie]

Hi Becki

Does your fathers car have this problem only while it's cold outside. My 79 Mustang steering was stiff as a board when I first started the car up on cold Michigan mornings. It cleared right up soon after I started driving. That rack was worn out, the car had a lot of hard miles on it. The 2005 is too new to have the rack worn out, I would think.


Does the car have the adjustable steering. I am not quite sure how that system works yet. I have it on my 95 and haven't played with it yet. That might have something to do with the problem.

[danielsatur]

1) What kind of Pwr-steering fluid was used?
2) Do you see any leaks?
3) How does the pump sound,when you are in the parked pos + turn the wheel?

I'am willing to bet that someone put Engine oil in the Pwr-steering pump.

MCGIVER

[Towncar]

Does the car have the adjustable steering. I am not quite sure how that system works yet. I have it on my 95 and haven't played with it yet....

Good point Mike...
The 2005 version of this is "fully automatic".. Ford named this feature "speed sensitive steering".. basically it stiffens up the steering effort at high speeds, and makes it easier to turn at low speeds.. Great, more shit to go wrong & no user preference available.

Check >> here << on page 242/243 it explains the basic principle.

I don't have my 2005 FSM with me, but I'll check it later for TSB's, Recalls, & possible causes of binding that might be specific to this car.

Note to self: copy FSM DVD's to work

[Towncar]

Ok - I'm reading the FSM...

The #1 cause is worn Ball Joints.
- Verify Ball Joints are within wear limits, and properly lubricated.

#2 Binding Steering Column Shaft/Coupling U Joints.
- Install new Steering Column Shaft.

#3 Loose, worn, or damaged Steering Linkage.
- Verify Linkage components condition, adjustment, and lubrication.

#4 Binding Suspension Components.
- Vehicle on rack, full weight on suspension, verify no binding as full steering travel is tested.

#5 Binding Steering Column Bearings.
- Install new Steering Column.

#6 Binding Dash Boot Seal.
- Install new Dash Boot Seal.

Now keep in mind, these are the general header topics for drill down detailed diagnostic subroutines that go very deep into each step of diagnosis.. for example #5 Install new Steering Column.. well Duh.. we should first verify the bearings might be at fault.. in doing so, this section describes removing the load so that the bearings can be tested.

Here's one example, I'll post the Steering Component Testing section here:
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=503910&da=y