Power Steering Ghosts

[theGman]

Never having had any problems with power steering, I wonder if any of you have had this. I have a '96 FWB and once in a while the PS goes out. Fluid is full. It comes back in anywhere from a few seconds to a half a minute, with no problems for maybe 2 weeks or more, then it happens again.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks, Paul

[toomanytoyz]

Does it happen at low speeds? Like parking lot and in the driveway? Check your water pump. It's leaking on the belt and causing it to slip. Really.

If not, not sure. Because with the variable assist, if the sensor goes wonky, it defaults to full assist. Not fun in the middle of an on ramp! Could be the pump, but usually they complain when they are dying.

When was the last time the fluid was flushed? You could try pulling the fluid out of the reservoir with a turkey baster (DON'T put it back in the kitchen! Get your own at the dollah store! ) and refill it with good stuff. Run it, cycle the wheel back and forth a few times, and then do it again. That'll replace a good deal of the nasty fluid. Might help. Might not.

Good luck!

[theGman]

Low speeds it is. I'll check this out.

[caplt4]

like it was mentioned before, a good flush and add some of teh lucas power steering fluid is very good, where in virginia are you located?

[RE LAC SN]

I've had issues with mine for a while now...my fleetwood don't turn as easy as my buddies did and occasionally at a decent rate of speed (above 45) the wheel jerks. (This is mostly goin into a turn and it pulls into the turn further). Now my bearings for my pulley whine occasionally (on the to do list) and I have a very very slight power steering fluid leak, I'm talkin I filled it to the correct level about 6 months ago and its still good. Y'all think this is just my pump or maybe the power assist acting up due to a bad sensor? Where is this sensor located?? Thanks

[theGman]

It's the water pump. Watch it drip, drip on the belt.

I'm in Waynesboro, Va.

Paul

[Northern Classics]

Originally Posted by RE LAC SN

I've had issues with mine for a while now...my fleetwood don't turn as easy as my buddies did and occasionally at a decent rate of speed (above 45) the wheel jerks. (This is mostly goin into a turn and it pulls into the turn further). Now my bearings for my pulley whine occasionally (on the to do list) and I have a very very slight power steering fluid leak, I'm talkin I filled it to the correct level about 6 months ago and its still good. Y'all think this is just my pump or maybe the power assist acting up due to a bad sensor? Where is this sensor located?? Thanks

Had this happen on my 97 RMW, the steering did exactly what you describe. This is an exact symptom of the steering input sensor acting up. My way of dealing with it was to unplug the electrical connector from the stupid thing. Now I have normal power steering at all times without fear of running someone off the road while going through a curve or off-ramp. And I don't even want to think about what would happen on ice or snow!!

The sensor is on the steering column, right near the firewall, engine side. The connector is on the bottom of this, and I believe it has 4 wires. It wasn't too hard to unplug it, but from what I've read, it takes hours to remove and replace the sensor.

Mine will not be connected again.

.

[HUF]

Originally Posted by RE LAC SN

I've had issues with mine for a while now...my fleetwood don't turn as easy as my buddies did and occasionally at a decent rate of speed (above 45) the wheel jerks. (This is mostly goin into a turn and it pulls into the turn further). Now my bearings for my pulley whine occasionally (on the to do list) and I have a very very slight power steering fluid leak, I'm talkin I filled it to the correct level about 6 months ago and its still good. Y'all think this is just my pump or maybe the power assist acting up due to a bad sensor? Where is this sensor located?? Thanks

I believe variable assist sensor is on the pump itself. Disconnecting it should result in permanent FULL assist (according to the FSM). As it was mentioned before there is another sensor on the column. Check the trouble codes. There must be PS-related ones.
The resistance in my variable assist circuit is wrong and sometimes it is hard to steer in a parking lot, but which is much worse sometimes it is too easy on a highway. I have got 128 PS-related history code all the time. Disconnecting that sensor on the pump resulted in 126 code, but it did not look like I had full assist after disconnecting it. Go figure...

[thebigbadWOLF]

Originally Posted by caplt4

like it was mentioned before, a good flush and add some of teh lucas power steering fluid is very good, where in virginia are you located?

i have had lucas kill 3 pumps i will never use that ish EVER again

[theGman]

The 95 is OBD I and Green antifreeze.

The 96 is OBD 2 and Orange antifreeze.