So, my '02 CVPI has weak steering assist. It also does not return to center. It starts to, but then I have to bring it back the rest of the way.
This is an improvement over when I bought it, if you read my thread you'll know that I found it was almost completely dead and I had to muscle it though u-turns. The way I fixed it was by putting a 20inHg vacuum on the reservoir, starting the car and cycling the steering lock-to-lock about 10 times.
I also changed the fluid today to Supertech Merc V. In the process I found the intake screen at the bottom of the reservoir was pretty dirty, so I took it off the car, rinsed it with brake cleaner and the dried it with compressed air.
I ended up running 3 quarts of fluid through the system. Now, if you put a flashlight to the reservoir it glows red.
I want to say that helped, but the biggest thing was putting the vacuum on it.
Good news is the steering is tight; I had my brother wiggle the steering wheel while I looked over all the components. I didn't see any loose parts.
It also does not fight me at any point nor is the assist uneven. Its just weak.
Im thinking Im going to have the alignment checked, as that could cause the lack of return to center, I think.
Im also debating putting a pump in it to get the assist back, but I dont want to if it wont fix it.
Any ideas on what else to check? The Ford manual goes through a procedure to check the pump using some tool to check flow and pressure; sounds expensive.
This is an improvement over when I bought it, if you read my thread you'll know that I found it was almost completely dead and I had to muscle it though u-turns. The way I fixed it was by putting a 20inHg vacuum on the reservoir, starting the car and cycling the steering lock-to-lock about 10 times.
I also changed the fluid today to Supertech Merc V. In the process I found the intake screen at the bottom of the reservoir was pretty dirty, so I took it off the car, rinsed it with brake cleaner and the dried it with compressed air.
I ended up running 3 quarts of fluid through the system. Now, if you put a flashlight to the reservoir it glows red.
I want to say that helped, but the biggest thing was putting the vacuum on it.
Good news is the steering is tight; I had my brother wiggle the steering wheel while I looked over all the components. I didn't see any loose parts.
It also does not fight me at any point nor is the assist uneven. Its just weak.
Im thinking Im going to have the alignment checked, as that could cause the lack of return to center, I think.
Im also debating putting a pump in it to get the assist back, but I dont want to if it wont fix it.
Any ideas on what else to check? The Ford manual goes through a procedure to check the pump using some tool to check flow and pressure; sounds expensive.