Whining PS Pump

[Marccus]

'89 SHO, 380,000 miles

I did a search for power steering pump problems and also found a part number for a replacement pump.

A1 Cardone 21-5785

Is this the only manufacturer available?

I have replaced the pump once with a new Ford OEM eplacement pump.

My power steering is starting to "whine" when I get to the extremes of steering wheel limit

Is this an indication or "warning" that the PS pump is starting to fail?

A really strange "unrelated issue" is when I turn the wheel, the engine rpm goes up (even when in neutral); the further I turn the wheel, the higher the rpm goes (2,000 and above).

As the wheel is straightened out , the rpms return to normal.

Huh?!!!

 

[zak]

Use the syringe technique once a day for a week, swap fluid out for the semisynthetic power steering fluid (Valvoline, grey bottle) typically at Autozoo

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

Your power steering pump is on it's way out for sure. Replace it now, it's better than being stranded on the side of the road with an overheating SHO.

 

[Rockledge]

Flush the old fluid out and fill itwith a good synthetic fluid. I use Mobil1 ATF in all my Ford PS systems.

 

[Marccus]

Yes, that's why I want to replace it now - I don't want to get stuck!

I us Redline Power Steering Fluid and I first flush the system with a Power Steering Flush Product.

Who knows if that really did any good.

Thanks to all. :thankyou:

 

[Marccus]

RockAuto lists three pumps:

Motorcraft remanufactured pump, $82.79 less core.
A-1 Cardone, $122.79 less core
ACDELCO, $181.79 less core.

Big diffference in prices!

I would think that the Motorcraft remanufactured pump would be the "best" one since it is the original ps pump and motorcraft would not skimp on parts.

I'm surprised that the ACDELCO pump is so much more expensive than even the A-1 Cardone.

Does anyone have an opinion on which one to go with?

thanks

 

[cmeseadoin]

Flush the old fluid out and fill itwith a good synthetic fluid. I use Mobil1 ATF in all my Ford PS systems.

Once the power steering pump has decided to talk to you and provide you feedback, it means that internal components have worn out and are on their way to failure. At 380K I am sure as I can be that the PS pump is F'n SHOT! Synthetic oil is not affiliated with acts of Jesus Christ by any means in my reckoning. It is not the be all, through all and FIX all there ever was. It is time for this person to fix the problem by replacing the PS unit and not bandaiding the fix so that he/she ends up on the side of the road banging their head into the ashphalt saying "OH SHIT I knew I should have replaced that thing a week ago!!"

 

[93rev2sev]

The Ford power steering engineer from the 80's that golfs with my pops tells me that "cavatation" is something they worked very hard to eliminate...unsuccessfully. As long as the cavatation happens only at the locks, the pump is acting "normal".

Still, when the pump starts to talk...change it...it will be moaning at straight line cruising speeds before you know it..with my luck it would really start to bother me in the dead of winter...
But you are in California...so you probably don't worry about getting the cars fixed before winter...

 

[Rockledge]

Once the power steering pump has decided to talk to you and provide you feedback, it means that internal components have worn out and are on their way to failure. At 380K I am sure as I can be that the PS pump is F'n SHOT! Synthetic oil is not affiliated with acts of Jesus Christ by any means in my reckoning. It is not the be all, through all and FIX all there ever was. It is time for this person to fix the problem by replacing the PS unit and not bandaiding the fix so that he/she ends up on the side of the road banging their head into the ashphalt saying "OH SHIT I knew I should have replaced that thing a week ago!!"

Read closer. The pump doesn't have 380K on it:

I have replaced the pump once with a new Ford OEM replacement pump.

I've owned 8-9 Fords over the years, and every one of the PS pumps "talked" to me when I acquired the vehicle (except my Ranger). In each case I flushed the PS system fluid and replaced it with new fluid. Worked wonders.

In the 3 Fords that I own currently and the two (89' Taurus and '93 Sable) that I owned before these, I did the full PS flush and fill using Mobil 1 with excellent results. No more noise, much smoother (and tighter) feel in the wheel, and absolutely no problems with the steering systems, ever. In other words, I didn't panic and jump to replace the powering steering pump without first trying a basic, and IMO routine, service. Now, if you want to throw parts and labor at a problem without considering other alternatives, that's your perogative. But I don't operate that way, nor do I suggest that kind of blind methodology to others.

P.S. I'm not sure what you mean about synthetic fluids being "affiliated with acts of Jesus Christ", but in any case, that is your characterization, not mine.

 

[cmeseadoin]

Read closer. The pump doesn't have 380K on it:
I've owned 8-9 Fords over the years, and every one of the PS pumps "talked" to me when I acquired the vehicle (except my Ranger). In each case I flushed the PS system fluid and replaced it with new fluid. Worked wonders.

In the 3 Fords that I own currently and the two (89' Taurus and '93 Sable) that I owned before these, I did the full PS flush and fill using Mobil 1 with excellent results. No more noise, much smoother (and tighter) feel in the wheel, and absolutely no problems with the steering systems, ever. In other words, I didn't panic and jump to replace the powering steering pump without first trying a basic, and IMO routine, service. Now, if you want to throw parts and labor at a problem without considering other alternatives, that's your perogative. But I don't operate that way, nor do I suggest that kind of blind methodology to others.

P.S. I'm not sure what you mean about synthetic fluids being "affiliated with acts of Jesus Christ", but in any case, that is your characterization, not mine.

You're correct, I mis-spoke, The pump was replaced one time in the past but we do not know the mileage. if we just averaged the mean, we'd be at 190K miles which is not insignificant. That would explain some wear on the PS pump. I don't have any idea when it was actually replaced because he did not state it. Typically I would not think he replaced the pump at 40K, for the sake of discussion, because TYPICALLY that would not be the case...HOWEVER, anything can happen when it comes to mechanical items as we all should know.

I guess we're all a composition of our experiences aren't we? When it comes to things that are going to potentially leave me on the side of the road for stupid reasons, I will replace them. Money is well spent to keep me off the side of the road. I agree that it is cheaper to try and resolve the issue with other means if you can, and it is great that synthetic has worked for you. I have personally witnessed other outcomes from such scenarios. It would be trying to simpler case scenario first. When it comes to synthetic products, I am one of those people that does not 100% buy into it. Yes, tests have been done to prove it is a good product but it costs and I am not sold on it yet. I have NEVER had any issues with anything I have ever owned to where I said to myself, "Well GD, I bet if I were running synthetic, this would not have happened!!" I do all my maint. on time and take meticulous care of things, and have yet to have an issue. So, for people that think synthetic is the answer to all things evil, I laugh. Just me, if you don't like it I really don't care. You have your views on the matter which is fine, and I have mine. Perhaps it is a better product but does it mean that after all that money spent your problem will never happen or go away, NOPE. All this is subjective. If this guy wants to try synthetic in his PS pump, I say go for it. It might last another 100K!

 

[Rockledge]

You're correct, I mis-spoke, The pump was replaced one time in the past but we do not know the mileage. if we just averaged the mean, we'd be at 190K miles which is not insignificant. That would explain some wear on the PS pump. I don't have any idea when it was actually replaced because he did not state it. Typically I would not think he replaced the pump at 40K, for the sake of discussion, because TYPICALLY that would not be the case...HOWEVER, anything can happen when it comes to mechanical items as we all should know.

I guess we're all a composition of our experiences aren't we? When it comes to things that are going to potentially leave me on the side of the road for stupid reasons, I will replace them. Money is well spent to keep me off the side of the road. I agree that it is cheaper to try and resolve the issue with other means if you can, and it is great that synthetic has worked for you. I have personally witnessed other outcomes from such scenarios. It would be trying to simpler case scenario first. When it comes to synthetic products, I am one of those people that does not 100% buy into it. Yes, tests have been done to prove it is a good product but it costs and I am not sold on it yet. I have NEVER had any issues with anything I have ever owned to where I said to myself, "Well GD, I bet if I were running synthetic, this would not have happened!!" I do all my maint. on time and take meticulous care of things, and have yet to have an issue. So, for people that think synthetic is the answer to all things evil, I laugh. Just me, if you don't like it I really don't care. You have your views on the matter which is fine, and I have mine. Perhaps it is a better product but does it mean that after all that money spent your problem will never happen or go away, NOPE. All this is subjective. If this guy wants to try synthetic in his PS pump, I say go for it. It might last another 100K!

I concur. I'm not one of those "synthetic or bust" types, either. I simply have had good experience with M1 so far in my PS systems.

Actually, Marccus apparantly has been running some good synthetic in his PS system already, which I didn't know when I first posted. So now that I know that, I might be more inclined to think it's time for a replacement pump.

 

[cmeseadoin]

I concur. I'm not one of those "synthetic or bust" types, either. I simply have had good experience with M1 so far in my PS systems.

Actually, Marccus apparantly has been running some good synthetic in his PS system already, which I didn't know when I first posted. So now that I know that, I might be more inclined to think it's time for a replacement pump.

Ah ok cool....I don't know what a pump costs, but it cannot be a fortune. Sounds like it might be time to pop a new one on. Hopefully that will solve it.

 

['94SHO]

If you are getting a new pump, you should spring for new hoses FIRST.. That is what
turned the fluid black, and why flushing works sometimes. They deteriorate
internally, and can swell shut like brake hoses.. Might not be the pump, it might be fighting itself.. Mine was groaning a little, flushed it and could actually see
little flecks of rubber in the fluid.... This can also make your car pull to one side.
(I know!) So I personally am getting the hoses first, flushing again, THEN I will
replace the pump.. If I have to..

 

[Bizzy]

You're correct, I mis-spoke, The pump was replaced one time in the past but we do not know the mileage. if we just averaged the mean, we'd be at 190K miles which is not insignificant. That would explain some wear on the PS pump. I don't have any idea when it was actually replaced because he did not state it. Typically I would not think he replaced the pump at 40K, for the sake of discussion, because TYPICALLY that would not be the case...HOWEVER, anything can happen when it comes to mechanical items as we all should know.

I guess we're all a composition of our experiences aren't we? When it comes to things that are going to potentially leave me on the side of the road for stupid reasons, I will replace them. Money is well spent to keep me off the side of the road. I agree that it is cheaper to try and resolve the issue with other means if you can, and it is great that synthetic has worked for you. I have personally witnessed other outcomes from such scenarios. It would be trying to simpler case scenario first. When it comes to synthetic products, I am one of those people that does not 100% buy into it. Yes, tests have been done to prove it is a good product but it costs and I am not sold on it yet. I have NEVER had any issues with anything I have ever owned to where I said to myself, "Well GD, I bet if I were running synthetic, this would not have happened!!" I do all my maint. on time and take meticulous care of things, and have yet to have an issue. So, for people that think synthetic is the answer to all things evil, I laugh. Just me, if you don't like it I really don't care. You have your views on the matter which is fine, and I have mine. Perhaps it is a better product but does it mean that after all that money spent your problem will never happen or go away, NOPE. All this is subjective. If this guy wants to try synthetic in his PS pump, I say go for it. It might last another 100K!

OMG....you made an F'n mistake. Holy ****, someone should ream you a new one for that!

 

[N3FOL]

PS Fluid

After reading this thread, this reminds me to replace the fluid in my SHO.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Re: Whiny PS pump...

Just bitch-slap it and tell it to shut-up !








Sorry, just couldn't help myself when I read the title

My power steering is starting to "whine" . . . .