power steering is randomly cutting out on a 92.

[intimdatr]

i recently saved my 92 SHO my dad had sitting in a feild and it has become my project and baby but as always there something that needs fixing, the power steering will randomly not boost. i believe the issue is either in the FAPS sensor or the rack is going out (god i hope not. just got done dealing with my bros rack on his 93 mark viii). but i just thought i asked and see what the community had to say and and if anything else could possibly be wrong that would cause this.

Thanks David

 

[lowc]

first off does it happen under load or at idle? secondly welcome to the forum and the world of empty bank accounts. i ask about the idle because it we help us with diag-ing your consern as if it goes away when you rev it up then it could be a pump issue or rack if it happens at idle then there is a different way to go about diag-ing it

 

[riden2low]

yep, give more detail. I too welcome you. These guys helped me get my 93 back on the road.

 

[kevinspann]

LOL FAPS sensor.

VAPS a 92 sho does not have VAPS, so that is not your issue.

 

[itwonder]

Unless you find a crimped hose, it's probably the rack. Not particularly difficult on the SHO.

 

[whiteguy3]

It could be the rack but I believe even though you do not have vaps you may still have a PSP sensor located on the rack that sometimes goes faulty and causes intermitant loss of assist.

 

[intimdatr]

it happens under all sorts of situations, i have yet to find ONE certain thing i do to cause the lost of boost. But i do notice it being more noticeable at lower speeds and RPMS yet it does not feel like it should at hight speeds. (lol yes i hit the F rather than the V it was lat and just got down spending all day working on it )

And we were under the impression it does have VAPS but we may be wrong and it may be the pressure sensor that is located on the rack.

As to the crimped hose ive spent some time checking for that and the only issue i can find is small indentation upon the cooler for it. it doesnt look like it would cause the close and if not total loss of boost and also it doesnt account for the randomness of it.

 

[93rev2sev]

Intermittant PS boost could be as simple as belt slippage.

On the other hand, if the steering is "sticking while on center", it's the rack or subframe bushings.

 

[itwonder]

One other thought. There is a tiny little oriface/check valve in the rack inlet (pressure side). It just sits in there, so you can get fish out with a pick. Maybe it has some crud plugging it up. Sometimes they get tossed away when the rack is replaced; it's not clear exactly what they were suppose to do.

 

[intimdatr]

One other thought. There is a tiny little oriface/check valve in the rack inlet (pressure side). It just sits in there, so you can get fish out with a pick. Maybe it has some crud plugging it up. Sometimes they get tossed away when the rack is replaced; it's not clear exactly what they were suppose to do.

that sounds like something that is a very good idea and logical. just to make sure its the pressure inlet hose on the rack correct?

 

[intimdatr]

Intermittant PS boost could be as simple as belt slippage.

On the other hand, if the steering is "sticking while on center", it's the rack or subframe bushings.

has new belt

and not a sticky feeling

 

[itwonder]

that sounds like something that is a very good idea and logical. just to make sure its the pressure inlet hose on the rack correct?

Yes, inlet side of the rack. It sits down inside the fitting on the rack, so you have to take the hose off to get to it. Nothing holds it down in there except gravity once the hose is off.

 

[intimdatr]

Thanks! hopefully i'll have time to check that out this weekend and not end up having to go run at a track meet.

 

[intimdatr]

The orifice has been removed and when driving around at normal speeds the steering seams to be smother with a bit more boost. yet at lower RPM (ie idle and coming off from stops) it still lacks any boost at all. Probably gonna order the Pressure Switch off rock auto and put it in and hope it fixes it.

 

[whiteguy3]

I believe the PSP sensor will fix your issue. If not it is time for a new rack.

 

[Bob Gervais]

The PSP sensor doesn't control boost on a non-fapfapfaps SHO, or any SHO for that matter. It's used for idle purposes.

To the OP, have you tried flushing the PS with Type F transmission fluid? That's the fluid recommended for the SHO.

If flushing doesn't help, I'd recommend checking all suspension parts with the car on jackstands. Ball joints, tie rods, and even messed up strut bearings will cause this issue. If all of that seems OK, looks like it's time for a rack.

 

[intimdatr]

is it possible for the pump to be going bad? I've recently been through **** and back dealing with a rack on a 93 Mark Viii and when my brothers rack went it appear to have different symptoms. Just wondering.

Thanks, David

 

[Bob Gervais]

I suppose it is possible, but it doesn't sound like your issue. Normally when a pump fails it's due to leakage or excessive noise. I'd try the flush first (because it's cheap), and see how that works.

 

[intimdatr]

To the OP, have you tried flushing the PS with Type F transmission fluid? That's the fluid recommended for the SHO.

If flushing doesn't help, I'd recommend checking all suspension parts with the car on jackstands. Ball joints, tie rods, and even messed up strut bearings will cause this issue. If all of that seems OK, looks like it's time for a rack.

i have not i will most likely be doing this soon to see what happens.

The stuff on the suspension stuff is either new or in good enough shape that it will not cause these problems. ive tugged and pulled on A LOT of stuff recently to find i needed a wheel bearing it seams snug as ever.

whats anyones opinion on rebuilding the racks? or is it even possible for something like this.

Thanks, David

 

[intimdatr]

did the flush and its getting better. were starting to think the pump is isnt pumping

another thing added to the summer to do list when the motor is pulled to do the A/C.