Power Steering Pump

[tweswoods]

Has anyone had to replace the power steering pump. I have a 02 and the mechanic contacted a Ford rep about the warranty. Obviously my warranty expired and I did not extend it. But my mechanic hinted that there may be a design defect with a switch on the back of the pump and to save the bill in case there is a recall. $1100 dollars to replace. Please help.

[Lonestar]

Re: Power Steering Pump

I do not recall anyone on here ever talking about a PS pump problem. What is it doing?

[rolllo]

Re: Power Steering Pump

My 2003 developed a very slow drip (3-4 drops per overnight) at about 38,000 miles it took seven trips to the dealer to correct this drip. On the seventh trip I finally asked them to make this right or get in touch with a regional rep. I was very unhappy with their poor skills at repairing a leak that was easy to trace. They replaced the power steering pump and the problem was resolved.

This was all done under warranty, and the service manager said that the factory rep. said that a few of the P/S pumps were causing a problem on the T-Birds.

[MATBird]

Re: Power Steering Pump

Has anyone had to replace the power steering pump. I have a 02 and the mechanic contacted a Ford rep about the warranty. Obviously my warranty expired and I did not extend it. But my mechanic hinted that there may be a design defect with a switch on the back of the pump and to save the bill in case there is a recall. $1100 dollars to replace. Please help.

Troy:
I didn't recall anything abouts Power Steering Pumps, so I did some searching on old threads for you. Not sure if this helps but I'll cut and paste what I found:
There have been some complaints about whinning coming from the steering pump and then about 6 years ago this guy with a new 2002 said:
"After 120 miles my T-Bird's power steering pump has developed a leak; a replacement is not available until Tuesday and it can't be run since the pump operates a hydraulic cooling fan. Has anyone else encountered this?"
On eperson answered with:
There's two power steering pumps! Looking at the engine, the right one's for the steering and the left one's for the cooling fan."
This one said:
"If the engine gets too hot, the engine computer will switch to failsafe mode, all the dash warning lights will illuminate, every other cylinder will shut off and pump air, and power will be reduced. You may still drive but if it gets gets hotter, it will shut off before it's damaged. After it cools some, you can restart and drive some more."
Another said:
"I am catching lots of flak recently because I've needed some high-dollar repairs done, all in the course of a few months. It started with the power steering pump (500.00), then went to the AC evaporator (1100.00), now I'm told I need a radiator fan motor (1000.00). This car has only 17,000 miles now."

Here's some old data I had kicking around, maybe it will help:
TSB data for: 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD
Bulletin Number: 15588
Sequence Number: 630144
Date: 20020101
Component Name: 062000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Make: FORD
Model: THUNDERBIRD
Year: 2002
Summary:
SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.9L V8 ENGINE ONLY, MAY EXHIBIT A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE HYDRAULIC COOLING FAN PUMP. *TT

This was for 2002-2005's, "There is a TSB out for the power steering "TSB 04.10.01A"; they drain and reservice the fluid with ATF and XL3,"
There is also: a TSB 06-5-16 for steering gear squeek when turning during low speed parkingmaneuvers"

[steelblue5505]

Re: Power Steering Pump

Just checked the 05 T-Bird service manual:
NO mention of any type of switch built on or in or around the Power steering pump.

[tweswoods]

Re: Power Steering Pump

Thank you all for your replys. I just moved to a new location which requires me to make sharp turns to get in and out of my garage. The other morning I was backing out of the garage and my steering began making noise. I backed out further and noticed a puddle of fluid and my steering wheel was difficult to turn. I knew it was the power steering but I thought it was just a busted hose.

My mechanic got it up on a lift and determined that it was the power steering pump. He contacted the local Ford rep to see if was still under warranty since I only have 42k miles on the car. The Ford rep said that it was a design flaw in the 02 pumps that the switch on the pump would eventually go bad if enough pressure built up and to make sure to keep the ticket for the repairs. Nothing official mind you.

[MATBird]

Re: Power Steering Pump

Troy:
That's good news if you get reimbursed. The fault is probably related to the TSB's I posted on post #4

[HKS]

Re: Power Steering Pump

The dealer just replaced a pressure switch on my 02. Repair cost $80.
I do not know if it was attached to the pump. My warranty also just expired a Month ago.

HKS

Has anyone had to replace the power steering pump. I have a 02 and the mechanic contacted a Ford rep about the warranty. Obviously my warranty expired and I did not extend it. But my mechanic hinted that there may be a design defect with a switch on the back of the pump and to save the bill in case there is a recall. $1100 dollars to replace. Please help.

[Ol'Dave]

Re: Power Steering Pump

Yep we got Pressure switch on our 02's.

Part X1W4Z 3N824 DA $24.83

BUTTT. The Rack was part# 1W6Z 3504 AARM $352.20

now add XL 9 Fluid $14.93.

Labor (cough,cough) $222.11

Total Fix $613.93


But I still Love Her!!!!!!!!!

[DavidA]

Re: Power Steering Pump

There was a recall on the first 1000 '02 Thunderbirds. The pressure switch was found to be faulty and For recalled every car that was delivered to dealers BEFORE they were let out to the public. Nearly ALL the cars were sent back to Michigan where they were retrofitted, but a few did get out to the public before the recall.

My car was on of those. It was at the dealer on the truck in July and was never off-loaded. The truck went back to the railhead with my car and it was not until October when I finally got delivery. Talk about frustration ...

[HKS]

Re: Power Steering Pump

Does anyone know if the hydraulic fan is running at a variable speed depending on temperature? Is there another switch or other temperature activated control in the power steering pump circuit for the fan?

Can anyone post a PDF of the powersteering/fan hydrailic circuit?

HKS

[MATBird]

Re: Power Steering Pump

HKS:
Check out this old thread on specs and stuff: http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ead.php?t=5793 for the power steering. You may find what you need.
Also while there, look at page 11 post 105, page 124 post 131 and page 18 post 171 for things related to your fan -
This thread may help answer your questions on pwr steer and hydr fan???? Unless of course you already tried it.

[HKS]

Re: Power Steering Pump

Matbird,

Thanks for the pointer to Joes PDFs. I looked through all of the PDFs and found a picture of the power steering pressure switch. It is not attached to the pump. Maybe the first 1000 Tbirds had the switch on the pump and Ford changed it from then on.

No complete hydraulic shematic of power steering was found.

HKS