Symptom Chart: Notes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer and 2004 Ford Explorer. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
SYMPTOM CHART
| Condition |
Possible Sources |
Action |
|
|
- 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.
- 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.
|
|
|
|
- Loose, worn or damaged tie-rod.
- Loose, worn or damaged tie-rod ends.
- Loose or damaged steering gear insualtors or bolts.
- Loose lower steering column shaft U-joint or pinch bolts.
|
|
- Loose suspension bushings, fasteners, ball joints, or strut bearing plate (if applicable).
- Worn or damaged steering column bearing (s).
|
|
- Poor returnability/stickly 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.
|
|
|
|
- Loose, worn or damaged tie-rod end.
- Loose, worn or damaged tie-rod.
- Suspension components.
|
|