Mondeo Woes

[The Artilleryman]

Monday started off well, nice run down to Suffolk - the long way A16/A1M/A14 fast flat roads (we'll forget the 3 lorry accident by Newmarket) - with the box trailer, miniature traction engine going to have a seized fusible plug removed. As I turn into the yard the steering feels as if I've got a flat front tyre.

Checked the tyres, all OK. Trailer unloaded and trailer secured and start journey home, no power steering Anyway at anything over 10mph it handles OK.

Uneventful run home and except at very slow speeds. Quick check when I get home, nothing obvious (belt, fluid level, gaiters not full of fluid), I suspect that the rack is shot. It's a MK4.5 (2011) so not affected by the problems and recall for the MK5's.

Wrong time of year for me to do the job myself. Phone round the local Ford dealers and I'm getting varying quotes - £800 to £1750 - the cheaper is for a Ford remanufactured rack (and is fully booked till Feb.) the expensive is for a new rack.

Worse is to come as Ford dealer who I used to get parts mail order from, actually checks the system for availability, remanufactured not available, brand new on 2 month back order due to the MK5 recall.

Looks like an interesting morning as I need to get my diagnosis confirmed ASAP.

Some of the remanufacturers prices look good (about the same as Ford), but then will need to find a good independent garage to fit it.

 

[tigdlo]

Does raising the engine speed at the same vehicle speed change the symptoms? Does steering below 10mph make the engine slow down? With you checking the belt and fluid level I assume it's and engine driven pump?

 

[sg66]

I got a rack for a neighbour, a fiesta not long after new model came out, was from local parts supplier reconditioned exchange job, they sent a brand new Ford unit, had non to exchange so started with a bunch of new racks.


Anywho, is getting it sent off and reconditioned an option?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Had it on mine, were a track rod end has semi seized.
Pasenger side, no external damage. It only when it was off did it show.

It didn't move, it shifted with a hammer.

 

[Ubique]

As above, check track rod ends first, if the pump seems noisy, check the filter in the pump reservoir isn't blocked. Take the drive belt off the pump & check for play in the pump. Ideally you'd want to be doing a hydraulic pressure check at the rack before condemning anything.

 

[Joe 90]

If it is the rack just stick a second hand one in it. Their is mondeos breaking everywhere. I'd expect to get one for £50.

 

[Ubique]

Forgot to add - check the flexi joint at the bottom of the steering column, these can wear and give the feeling of no power steering.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Forgot to add - check the flexi joint at the bottom of the steering column, these can wear and give the feeling of no power steering.

Didn’t some fords have that PTFE bush/washer on the top joint as well.

 

[Joe 90]

Had it on mine, were a track rod end has semi seized.
Pasenger side, no external damage. It only when it was off did it show.

It didn't move, it shifted with a hammer.

I never saw a track rod end seized before. I've seen them that badly wore that they popped off but never seized. Was the boot damaged and let water into it.
Do you know what brand it was?

 

[tigdlo]

Seized steering components often cause difficulty is maintaining a straight line while driving as the self centre effect will be reduced and will often pull slightly to the last direction steered.

 

[Ubique]

Didn’t some fords have that PTFE bush/washer on the top joint as well.

That was a while ago! , I think that mainly caused a rattle/vibration concern but if left long enough I suppose it could cause a binding issue.

 

[RWD3M]

I think like @. suggested, I'd be suspecting the pump first.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I think like @. suggested, I'd be suspecting the pump first.

My post was on real life experiamce, the second was a question.

But pumps do fail.

 

[RWD3M]

My post was on real life experiamce, the second was a question.

But pumps do fail.

Wasn't doubting you, just offering my opinion.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I never saw a track rod end seized before. I've seen them that badly wore that they popped off but never seized. Was the boot damaged and let water into it.
Do you know what brand it was?

As I said. no visable damage.

It was seized to the point a hammer was needed to shift it.
On the skid plates on a MOT ramp it moved. But wa not happy.
The grease was not there any more.

I have had a lower ball joint lock up an a Mk2 Astra in the past.

It is rare, but it happens.

 

[bricol]

Seized steering components often cause difficulty is maintaining a straight line while driving as the self centre effect will be reduced and will often pull slightly to the last direction steered.

Yep, had a UJ connection column to rack seize over a winter of no use. Was slightly surprised the following summer to be able to set the steering and leave to keep going in a circle

Application of grease and some articulating got it freed up.

 

[The Artilleryman]

Are you sure its the rack?

Often the pumps fail and either drop pressure of flow suddenly and this gives similar results and if it is a piston pump its often the flow which is the problem so check the pump is giving flow to the rack and if possible tap a gauge into the pressure port to check the pump pressure.

Pump is quiet, fluid is moving in reservoir. The Mondeo mk4 is know for steering rack problems - not as bad as the mk5, which has a major recall.

Does raising the engine speed at the same vehicle speed change the symptoms? Does steering below 10mph make the engine slow down? With you checking the belt and fluid level I assume it's and engine driven pump?

No, No and yes it's engine driven.

On the road it's fine, just slow speed manoeuvring that's the problem, trying to park on the drive is a nightmare.

 

[Ubique]

If you do need a replacement rack, I can recommend these people https://shop.westernpowersteering.co.uk/category-150.html I've used them for years, had tens of racks from them, only ever had one problem (funnily enough, on my own car!) which they resolved very quickly. I would really, really, really recommend replacing the PS reservoir at the same time as it contains the system filter, flushing the PS system through won't do any harm either - but as has been mentioned a couple of times, get a pressure check done before you do anything else.

 

[Aff]

My Mk4 lost power steering and it was the tiny non-replaceable filter in the bottom of the res getting blocked and starving the pump.

A new res and a good flush of the fluid and its been fine for the last 1.5 years.

 

[The Artilleryman]

If you do need a replacement rack, I can recommend these people https://shop.westernpowersteering.co.uk/category-150.html I've used them for years, had tens of racks from them, only ever had one problem (funnily enough, on my own car!) which they resolved very quickly. I would really, really, really recommend replacing the PS reservoir at the same time as it contains the system filter, flushing the PS system through won't do any harm either - but as has been mentioned a couple of times, get a pressure check done before you do anything else.

Ford used to list a remanufactured rack for about £200, can't get a straight answer from local stealer (they are quoting £1375 new if they can get one). The Ford garage I'm using seem to think the Ford remanufactured one is available. If not https://shop.westernpowersteering.co.uk/category-150.html would be my first choice.

I prefer to use main dealer as they have the correct tools and info on the computer - yes, slightly more expensive, but less hassle, they are quoting for new reservoir in there price.

If it was summer, I might have done it myself, but not this time of year, health not good enough.