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Home >> Ford >> 2000 >> Contour SVT >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 521 (Steering System) >> Diagnosis And Testing >> Steering System >> Symptom Chart
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Symptom Chart

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Mercury Monterey and 2004 Ford Freestar. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
SYMPTOM CHART

Condition Possible Sources Action
  • Steering system noise
  • Low fluid level.
  • Fluid aeration.
  • Steering gear.
  • Power steering pump.
  • Loose or damaged steering linkage.
  • Loose or damaged suspension component (s).
  • Steering column.
  • Steering column boot bearing.
  • Intermediate shaft.
  • Loose dash boot seal.
  • Steering is very difficult/very easy
  • Seized intermediate shaft U-joints.
  • Damaged, fractured steering column bearing(s).
  • Steering gear.
  • Power steering pump.
  • Power steering hoses.
  • Ball joints.
  • Strut bearing plate (if applicable).
  • Binding dash boot seal.
  • Excessive steering wheel play
  • Steering gear.
  • Steering column.
  • Steering column intermediate shaft.
  • Steering linkage.
  • Ball joints.
  • Strut bearing plate (if applicable).
  • Steering system drift/pull/wander
  • Tire pressure.
  • Wheel alignment.
  • Steering gear.
  • Unevenly loaded vehicle.
  • Steering column intermediate shaft.
  • Frame alignment.
  • Feedback
  • Loose, worn or damaged tie-rod.
  • Loose, worn or damaged tie-rod ends.
  • Loose or damaged steering gear insulators or bolts.
  • INSTALL new steering gear insulators or bolts if necessary, or TIGHTEN the bolts as needed.
  • Loose lower steering column shaft U-joint or pinch bolts.
  • INSTALL new lower steering column shaft and bolts or TIGHTEN the bolts as needed Refer to STEERING COLUMN .
  • Loose suspension bushings, fasteners, ball joints, or strut bearing plate (if applicable).
  • Worn or damaged steering column bearing(s).
  • Poor returnability/sticky steering
  • Binding lower steering column shaft U-joints.
  • Loose, worn or damaged front wheel knuckle tie-rod.
  • Loose, worn or damaged tie-rod ends.
  • Suspension components.
  • Binding steering column bearing(s).
  • Binding dash boot seal.
  • Shimmy
  • Loose, worn or damaged tie-rod end.
  • Loose, worn or damaged tie-rod.
  • Suspension components.
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