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1999 Ford Taurus LE - 2 brand new power steering pumps have failed in a month!
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KindKraft
New User
Feb 11, 2009, 12:08 PM
Post #1 of 2
(2013 views)
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1999 Ford Taurus LE - 2 brand new power steering pumps have failed in a month!
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Twice in the path month my steering wheel has locked up. Then the car overheats and the battery starts to die.
I have brought it to the shop twice. The first time they told me the power steering pulley had "fallen off" and "disintergrated" to to age. They replaced it AND the pump and put in power steering fluid.
2 days later the steering wheel locks up AGAIN and becomes very difficult to steer. The battery light goes on and I assume it's the same thing so this time I bring it to a different shop.
They tell me this time that it's the power steering pump itself - and they replace it.
That was 3 days ago. The same mess happens AGAIN and we bring it to a 3rd shop and this guys says the power steering pump is ruined.
Now - I know this is statistically highly improbably. It is very unlikely that the pulley and then the pump fail within a few weeks of each other.
According to the mechanic at the 2nd shop - replacing the pump and diagnosing the problem was "one of the hardest jobs he's ever done."
So now I have a brand spanking new power steering pump that magically fails and just a few weeks earlier the pulley failed.
So long story short here is my problem:
I've been to 3 shops in the past 3 weeks. I have had 2 brand new power steering pumps fail on me in that time and once a power-steering pulley fell off.
What is wrong with my car? Is is electrical? 2 brand new pumps won't fail unless something else is causing them to fail.
Can you guys help me?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 11, 2009, 2:54 PM
Post #2 of 2
(2010 views)
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Re: 1999 Ford Taurus LE - 2 brand new power steering pumps have failed in a month!
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Just some thoughts: A common denominator is the belt driven items. Overheated - waterpump? Steering by pump, and alternator all belt driven.
A maybe: If the belt it way too tight for whatever reason - short belt or at the inside limit length of range of self tensioner it might get tighter with engine heat and start burning up the weakest link, belt slips and the resultant damage and things noticed.
Also - Count the grooves of each pulley to see they match. Ford did make a few rare ones - the need to be uniform AND be in a perfect line as viewed.
Take belt off and spin each item too for any sign of a bearing issue with pullied items. With belt on look at tensioner and mark its home position. It should be able to still move a fair amount either way from where it sets. Loosen and see how close it is to the "too tight" end of its range.
Just tossing out a maybe,
T
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