Power Steering Fluid?
I own a 2000 Ford Contour and I noticed my power steering fluid was low. Does it matter what type of fluid I use or can I just throw any old power steering fluid in it?
How do I bypass the power steering pump on a 2000 3.3 town and country?
I'm with Ted on this one. While it may be possible, I don't recommend it. I don't see power steering as a safety item, but getting rid of it on a minivan seems unnecessary. But, because I have done many things that were cheaper than they were smart, I think all you will need is a shorter belt. How short is up to you to figure out. According to this diagram,Redirect Noticewhich was a Google search result for 3.3 Town and Country belt routing, if you bypass the power steering pump, you can still come up the right side of the tensioner and around the alternator, so you won't need an idler bracket and pulley.Now, your steering will still be rock hard, so you need to crack open your rack and pinion and break the piston seal off the piston. Look up Miata steering rack de-power for the basics.Your steering will still be stiff, but it will be a little better. Also, it's gonna suck having the world's only no power steering minivan. All in all, it's as much work as fixing it, but slightly cheaper.
Do you really NEED a power steering pumP?
1st off, as I tell alot of people, without proper diagnostics you cannot get a proper repair...with that being said... 2nd, the power pump is what helps you turn your steering wheel to turn your wheels in the direction that you want to go, therefore making it easier to drive. Without the power steering pump it would be like driving a rock until you got started moving and momentum helped out(have you ever driven a pre-1975 vehicle? They had power steering as an option until then but afterwards they made all cars and trucks with power steering as a standard) 3rd, a car can be driven without power steering but it isn't fun(hope you have some strong muscles...lol) 4th, having your power steering repaired isn't that much depending on the car, between $1-300 on average and the best thing that can happen...you build up some arm muscle, the worst is of course and accident because you weren't able to turn as easily. Good luck and hope this helps. .
Power steering leak ford contour?
My girlfriends car is a 1999 Ford Contour V6. About a month ago I went an ordered a power steering cap for the reservoir because her father had a make shift plastic bag covering the hole. A few days after we bring the car to his house and being a typical dad he opens the hood and checks the oil and notices the new cap I have bought for it and that the power steering level is just a hair above low but still in the line of low and high. He then puts transmission fluid inside the reservoir to top it off. The very next morning my girlfriend goes to work and calls me. She stated that the car was making a funny noise. I met her at lunch and noticed fluid under the car and that the power steering level was bone dry. I contacted her father, and he told me "Yea, the pressure of the new cap probably blew the seal". When I am thinking it was the transmission fluid probably opening the seals since it's not designed for it. He now insists that I cough up the repairs for the steering rack where it leaks because I put a new cap on. He is denying that adding transmission fluid would have harmed it. Anyone have any info or past experience seeing this happen? No matter how hard I look, I cannot find a real answer.
How do I bypass power steering pump and completely get rid of it?
What do you mean when you say that the pump can't be repaired or replaced? If it's a matter of not being able to afford to fix it or you can't get the parts, then you are probably going to be without a truck for a while until you can get it fixed properly. While it may technically be possible to do away with the power steering, it is most likely going to be more difficult and more expensive than making repairs (if you want it to be safe at all).Vehicles that have power steering simply aren't designed to be driven without it. You will cause damage to other steering components such as the rack or gearbox. Not only that, but vehicles are geared differently now. The steering on a non powered vehicle was designed to function without hydraulics. Without power, a modern system's steering radius is affected greatly, they literally can't turn as far without power.The heavier the vehicle, the harder it is to steer without power. In particular, I would not attempt to drive any pickup(or larger vehicle) on the road without power steering. There's simply to much risk.There are only two times when I would even consider driving a vehicle with failed power steering:In an emergency. Either I need to get the vehicle home, or I need to get someone to a hospital and have no other options.It's a farm vehicle, the only thing I use it for is moving a few tools around a field.I've had to move two modern vehicles with failed power steering. The first was a Honda Civic that wouldn't run. We dragged it about ten miles with me steering the car. It was really hard to turn at all, and that was with a fairly lightweight car. Afterwards it felt like I'd spent the entire day weightlifting, just from a short drive.The other vehicle was my friend's Dakota pickup. I went out with him to get the truck. The pump had failed and we needed to get it back to his house so that we had space and tools to work with. We got it started, he hopped in to drive, and I followed in my car. I followed him right up until he plowed into a tree on a particularly sharp turn. He simply couldn't make the turn without power steering. He ended up with a tow bill, body shop bill, the repair bill for the pump, and a hospital visit on top. That's why I will never recommend doing away with power steering on a vehicle.
What does it mean when your power steering fluid is black?
You should change it, or have it changed. Power steering fluid should be clear and if it is dirty it can clog the lines and ruin the bearings on your power steering pump which is much more expensive to replace. However, check it yourself first. You can just unscrew the cap and take a look inside, it's usually in a medium sized round plastic container in the engine bay somewhere. I have found that many auto shops will try to sell you power steering fluid replacement just to make some money. I had one stop try to sell it to me after I had already done it a week before, i never went back there.
96 Ford Contour Check Engine Light?
I have a 1996 Ford Contour Sport. Just had the fuel pump and filter replaced. Before I broke down, weeks before, the check engine light came on. Codes read the 02 sensor and power steering. I know I have a power steering fluid leak. Had it patched up by a mechanic. I sometimes have a difficult time steering. I hear the groan from the steering wheel but the fluid is not leaking anymore. Any ideas?
Can a bad power steering pump make a vehicle misfire?
I am currently at the shop getting my truck fixed. Instead of what I thought was wrong, it ended up being the power steering pump (squealing, screeching, whining, etc), but I also have a case of 2nd cylinder misfire going on. It has gotten quite violent and at times seems like the misfiring wants to make my truck die at a stop longer than 30 seconds. CEL went on about four days ago, got a code read, found out which cylinder, and yesterday the CEL went off. However, misfiring is still present. Got brand new spark plugs as much as two months ago, checked them out, they are fine. Spark plug wires are fine as well. Could a bad power steering pump contribute or cause of the misfiring to happen? If not, what could the misfiring be caused by? Thanks!
Could A bad power steering gear box cause check engine light to come on?
I had my 1996 Ford ranger scant and it was because of and 02 sensor error i fixed that. I drove to the Store today and noticed my steering was a little hard to control i pulled into the parking lot and heard a thud and what sounded like boiling water. I parked the car and opened the hood notices the power steering pump cap had popped off i put it back on and started the truck back up and the light went off ... BTW there is no fluid in there do to there being a leak in the gear Box could my cap be popping off because of this? Should i get a new gear Box? Do you think the light check engine light will come back on if i dont replace it?