I think is the power steering pump...

mannyjfk · #1 08-11-2008, 07:00 PM

I have a 99 Windstar and when I accelerate I hear a squeak sound like if the belt was dry. I went to Autozone and got a can of Belt Dressing and the noise still on. I placed my ear close to the power steering pump and it does come from the pulley. The guys at my local lube place recommended for me to replace the pump (or was the fluid? Can't remember.)but I did not took them seriously as I have no issue while steering. Could that squeaking sound be a warning sound to replace the pump? If it is, can anyone send me the instructions on how to do it?
Thanks in advance

69cuda340s · #2 08-11-2008, 10:25 PM

Take your belt off and sping your idler pulleys by hand. The bearings may be going bad.

tripletdaddy · #3 08-11-2008, 10:26 PM

You may still have a belt squeek. While underhood, find the throttle lever and goose it to get it to squeek to help locate the squeek and determine if it is the belt or the pump. Is the belt shiny on its back side? It may be slipping on one or more pulleys. Does it have any cracking on the mini v-grooves? It might be worth a belt replacement. It could also be a bearing going bad in one of the idler or tensioner pulleys. Does it screech when you turn the steering wheel while not moving? That would indicate a slipping belt on the ps pump and worth replacing the belt. With the belt off, you should wiggle and spin all of the pulleys for noise and looseness. I also suggest you place a long screwdriver on the metal body of the ps pump right behind the pulley and listen to the handle end. Is the noise coming from there? Typically, Ford's ps pump has a long history of having a noisy, groaning sound to it. Some here and the Taurus forum have found flushing and replacing the old fluid helps. Apparently the most success in quieting it was with full synthetic fluid. You need to check for the proper fluid typed and compatability. The procedure for the flush and refill you can search for here and on the Taurus forum. Unfortunately, the pump removal requires a special pulley puller. You may be able to borrow one at a parts store. The procedure I think is available at Autozone.com in the repair section for your specific vehicle. If they don't have it for your year, try an earlier year. I don't remember what is the latest year they cover.

mannyjfk · #4 08-12-2008, 08:57 AM

Thinking about it, the sound does come from the pulley, not from the pump itself. Is there a way to just replace the pulley and not the pump? The steering in the vehicle seems to be quite fine. It wabbles a little bit and in the same way it wabbles it makes the squeaking noise. Please advise on what to do. If replacing the pulley is an option or do I have to replace the entire pump.
Thanks

tripletdaddy · #5 08-12-2008, 09:17 PM

The pulley on the ps pump is wobbling? Not good. Go ahead and take the serpentine belt off so you can better asses the pulley's condition as well as all of the other pulleys, etc. The ps pump pulley may be just loose, but you should check for wobbling and looseness at all of them. Unfortunately, if the pulley has wobbled too much, it and the ps pump shaft may be too sloppy and worn to mate tightly. I'd hope and expect your pulley is just loose and not damaged. Offhand I don't recall if it is held on by an allen head bolt, could be either metric or english. Actually the belt on the pulley is a good way to keep it from turning. If it has holes in it, you can keep it from turning with a long screwdriver. If the pulley only is damaged, the junk yard or dealer would be where I'd expect to find one, but you could ask the parts store. Usually, you take the pulley off to take the pump out and then just exchange your old one for a new one without a pulley on it. Even if you wanted to get the pulley and pump from a junk yard, you will have to seperate the two, but you will most likely get a good deal on them as you will most likely have to pull it yourself. Hopefully, you will be able to borrow the pulley puller from a parts store.

mannyjfk · #6 08-12-2008, 09:46 PM

Do the PS Pump Pulley has some sort of bearing? I am gonna try to loosen up the belt a little to see if it makes a difference.

tripletdaddy · #7 08-13-2008, 02:25 AM

Nope. The ps pump shaft bearing is in the front of the pump. The pulley is just force fitted on the shaft. There is a second bearing on the shaft inside at the back end of the shaft. If I'm not mistaken, the belt is either all of the way on or all of the way off as it has an automatic tensioner pulley, so you won't be able to run it with less tension on the pulleys.

mannyjfk · #8 08-13-2008, 08:37 AM

So to make the long story short, should I just replace the PS Pump and get it over with? Is not that expensive after all. Autozone has it for $89.99 with a $40.00 core. Is there anything else I should be aware of before I start the job Saturday? I have all the tools for the job including the pulley tool. I want to get all the parts ahead of time so I can cover all angles and do it all at once.

Manny

12Ounce · #9 08-13-2008, 08:48 AM

Actually, '99 was the first year that the power steering pump became easier to remove from the engine. (Beware of 'hidden' bolt! I think I remember 4 bolts total.) Up to '98, the pulley wheel had to first removed from the pump ... but, not so ... as of '99. Also the belt is easier to remove ... I just tug on mine by hand, and slip it off/on the alternator pulley ... just don't get in a hurry!

The pulley wheel still has to be removed from the pump using a special puller (avail from AutoZone tool rent ...) ... but it now can be done on the bench.

BTW, when starting up the new pump ... start/stop the engine often, topping up the reservoir each time. Do not let the pump run dry even for a second!

I like the Valvoline syn ps fluid.

mannyjfk · #10 08-13-2008, 09:35 AM

12Ounce so to correct the squeaking noise should I replace the pump? Is there anything else I should do? I noticed that the pump is right on top of the engine passenger side so it is a lot easier to remove than older models.

Let me know

Manny

12Ounce · #11 08-13-2008, 11:02 AM

Well, I would first use a length of old garden hose, or something of this nature, for a poor-man's "stethoscope" to probe about the engine ... listening for the noise source. I would suspect the belt idler, the belt tensioner, even the alternator or ac compressor as more likely noise sources ... but it certainly may be the pump, it will take some sleuthing to be sure.

Don't overlook the cam shaft sensor "synchronizer" as a noise source also ...

wiswind · #12 08-13-2008, 08:49 PM

Camshaft sychronizer and the idler pulley are possible "other" sources of noise.

My idler pulley had me chasing my tail....replaced the power steering pump.....found that the noise was caused by the idler pulley the whole time.....but it would not make noise below a certain RPM.....seemed fine when spun by hand with the belt off.

For fluid, use Mercon V ATF fluid in your 99 windstar.

mannyjfk · #13 08-14-2008, 09:51 AM

I was just checking it out yesterday and the noise has gone down dramatically. Is more like a chirping sound than a squeaking sound. What has me thinking is the fact that the Lube place around the block recommended me to replace the PS Fluid. Same way they recommend to replace the air filter etc. Should I take their advise seriously or that could be just another sales pitch?

12Ounce · #14 08-14-2008, 12:08 PM

Your getting more advice than you can follow.

I'll add to it: Lift the camshaft position sensor and drop a few drops of clean motor oil on the top of the synchronizer shaft assembly.

tripletdaddy · #15 08-14-2008, 02:44 PM

I've had the tensioner pulley bearing chirp at low rpm and go away at higher rpm just above 800 rpm. So you could be having that or the idler pulley bearing making that noise. A long screwdriver or pry bar on the pulley bolt or idler arm and the handle to your ear may help you determine the noise source. As previously said, a hose can locate noises. I've found certain noises are easier to find with different listening devices.

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