Ford Focus Mk1 Power steering

diz79

Power sterring fluid keeps leeking, at first the car made a high pithed noise I then checked and the fluid was out, added more and it leaked again. Initially it was more stiff turning right then left. Im now at the stage where theres no noise anymore I am using the car but obviously steering is stiff. There doesent seem to be a hole in the container but I wouldnt know where to look, does anyone know what the next step is and what has caused this?



Also how easy is it to change the outside door trim as well have to change driver door and looks tricky?



Thanks in advance.

BeenThroughItAll

diz79 wrote: »

Power sterring fluid keeps leeking, at first the car made a high pithed noise I then checked and the fluid was out, added more and it leaked again. Initially it was more stiff turning right then left. Im now at the stage where theres no noise anymore I am using the car but obviously steering is stiff. There doesent seem to be a hole in the container but I wouldnt know where to look, does anyone know what the next step is and what has caused this?

Also how easy is it to change the outside door trim as well have to change driver door and looks tricky?

Thanks in advance.

If you've been driving it around with hardly any or no PS fluid, the next step is a garage, new steering pump, potentially a rack, and whichever pipe first had the leak.

Norman_Castle

diz79 wrote: »

There doesent seem to be a hole in the container but I wouldnt know where to look, does anyone know what the next step is and what has caused this?

Leaking steering rack, pump or pipework. Find a mechanic. Caused by age and wear.

liltzero

sounds like you need a new engine to me

diz79

Im quite good with diy is it a big job? How much would garage charge £400?

konark

Depends where the leak is. If it's at the rack it could be a leaking seal or pipe connection. If you're lucky it'll just need a new pipe. Best to not drive it with the compressor still running it could damage it if there's no fluid in it.

forgotmyname

Your good at DIY and yet cannot check the fluid level once a week?

And have to wait until the pump runs dry and eating itself, and even then your fix is just to top it up?

I can change the fuse in a plug, I may take up micro brain surgery next.

Jackmydad

I'm worried about the fact that someone with broken steering is still driving it. It must be a pig to drive, very difficult to steer. You need to get it fixed before using it again. IMHO
With any powered hydraulic system, if anything has worn, then there's a good chance that there will be metal particles or other crud in the fluid. So the system will need flushing. AS already said if you have been running it with no fluid, there's a good chance the pump and rack will both be shot.

diz79

Its not that difficult to drive only when doing a three point turn on further inspection theres a leek just below the engine possibly one of the pipes ? I cant get to the garage until Friday at the earliest and im self employed hence whilst still driving . I do need to go mechanic I agree but a leek in a pipe surely isnt as bad?

Jackmydad

Mate, if the pump has run "dry" due to a leaky pipe, it'll probably be worn out, and it'll have pumped metal particles into the rack. You might be lucky, and that won't have happened, or you might not be.
I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that if the car is fitted with power steering as standard then failed power steering would make the car unsafe in the eyes of the law. So if you have an accident with it in that state, you could be in bother.

BeenThroughItAll

Jackmydad wrote: »

Mate, if the pump has run "dry" due to a leaky pipe, it'll probably be worn out, and it'll have pumped metal particles into the rack. You might be lucky, and that won't have happened, or you might not be.
I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that if the car is fitted with power steering as standard then failed power steering would make the car unsafe in the eyes of the law. So if you have an accident with it in that state, you could be in bother.

I sincerely hope not, I did at least 10K miles in a Mk2 MX-5 with the power steering disconnected.