Questions and Answers
Moaning Taurus
Q. I have a 1999 Ford Taurus that I recently purchased. The problem is a very loud moaning noise that comes from the power steering pump when the car is standing still and I turn the wheel. The noise is not as noticeable when the car is moving. It is also not as loud in the morning.
The car steers fine, no problems whatsoever. I flushed the fluid, but the noise continued. I decided to change the power steering pump since the noise was annoying. The noise continued exactly the same. I went to the auto store and they thought that I possible got a bad P/S pump. I changed it again, but the exact same noise continued. My friend has a similar car and the P/S pump is silent.
One more thing, when I open the P/S pump unit, (where you add the fluid), you can virtually see the fluid moving around rapidly and squirting down from the top of the unit. My friend's P/S pump does not have any fluid movement. The 1998 Taurus had a P/S noise recall, but there was no recall on the 1999 year vehicle. I am not sure what the service kit changed. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.1999 Ford Taurus
24 Valve - DOHC engine V-6
58,000 miles
Automatic TransmissionThanks,
RickA. The recall kit consisted of a longer P/S high pressure line and fittings for it. The problem was that the P/S high pressure line would touch the Power Distribution Box and cause a moaning type noise and, eventually, the line would wear through and leak.
The correction should have been made to the 1999 models, but it is possible some very early production models may have been missed. I would look at the high pressure line and make sure it is not touching anything.
If you are sure the fluid level is correct and the system has been bled properly, then I would think it is the pump. Sometimes an auto parts store will get a run of bad parts so that when you return one bad part, you get another bad part. Unusual, but it does happen. You can try getting a pump from a totally different source, or ideally, from a Ford dealer.
The Ford dealer has a special tool to vacuum purge the P/S system in the case of a persistent noise. That may be the way to go before replace the P/S pump again.
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
