Bad Power Steering Pump?

[AnotherS197]

Alright, so long story short, PS pump has made a little squeak noise while turning from time to time. It's been leaking for a bit now, can't tell from where. Went off roading today, definitely went through some pretty crazy splashes. Went and parked it a few hours, didn't notice anything on the way home.


Now, there's a constant high pitched whine noise whenever I turn the wheel and a grinding feeling coming through the steering wheel when I turn the wheels when stopped. I don't feel the grinding when moving but the whine/squeal is there. So what's this sound like? Did the pump finally take a crap?

Also, the fluid smells burnt.

[Maritime Storm]

Change the fluid. Takes Mercon, use a turkey baster and change it a couple of times.

[Ranger Rick1]

^like he said. Change the fluid. Prolly got some water up in there.

[AnotherS197]

That was the first thing I had thought to do actually in my few moments of crap what next. Thought it might be low cuz of the leak, opened it up and the level was fine but it was dark and smelled burnt, so I did exactly that with the turkey baster.

I'd take old out, put new in, turn the wheel lock to lock a few times, repeat. No improvement. Any other ideas? Maybe I need to do it a few more times.

[cowboybilly9mile]

Seems to me that in the Ford factory service manual there is a section on how to flush the power steering system, if that's what you want to do. Also, Mercon, tranny fluid, it goes in the tranny, even if it works in other paces. Power steering fluid, that's what goes in the power steering system.

[AnotherS197]

The manual does call for ATF Type F. About to go out and try to change out the fluid a bit more.

[AnotherS197]

Just swapped out more fluid with no change...great.

[Maritime Storm]

If changing the fluid didn't help, then a new pump is most likely in your future. Keep in mind that Ford P/S pumps on that generation almost always buzz to some extent regardless of condition.