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Power steering flat spot problems

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Power steering flat spot problems

Postby reevco62 » Sat May 06, 2017 12:08 pm

In the morning when cold you start the van and you feel a resistance like a flat spot when you turn the wheel once either way and the van has warmed up a bit it's fine
The fluid is just above min when cold, I'm thinking time to change the fluid as van now 6yrs old.

Has anyone else had this problem, the van is just back from service at Fords, the mechanic said fluid okay could be a small valve inside the power steering pump sticking
It takes thousands of nuts to hold a Transit together but only one nut behind the wheel to distribute them all over the road...
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby dumper » Sat May 06, 2017 12:25 pm

Had same on mine fluid change worked on mine
MK 8 L4 H3 Motorsport campervan
Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby Airthies » Sat May 06, 2017 4:09 pm

I've got exactly the same. Changed fluid (was clear hyd fluid by the looks but wasn't very clear anymore) it's helped but not sorted the issue. I find mines worse to the right than the left. Not got round to investigating further yet!
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby reevco62 » Sun May 07, 2017 1:40 pm

If I have time this week I'll change the fluid but I'm rebuilding a 1.6 Pinto at the moment
It takes thousands of nuts to hold a Transit together but only one nut behind the wheel to distribute them all over the road...
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby reevco62 » Fri May 18, 2018 9:12 pm

Wow where does time go to it's over a year since I put this question 1.6 Pinto rebuilt and back in the car, Cortina back on the road first time in 15 yrs

So back to the van
Okay fluid changed was very dirty has improved problem but still there......
I thought it was the cold weather as seemed worse then. Thought hydraulic fluid could have absorbed some moisture and that had frozen. but still showing up in this good weather
Van just gone over the 100,000
Only does it on start up from cold goes away once ran for 5 or 10 mins


A friend also has the same problem with his Transit same age 150,000 on his
It takes thousands of nuts to hold a Transit together but only one nut behind the wheel to distribute them all over the road...
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby Phil53 » Thu May 24, 2018 10:02 pm

On my last, older transit, I had a similar problem, the belt was slipping!
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby reevco62 » Wed Mar 06, 2019 9:55 am

Really surprised this has gone unanswered as a lot of people seem to have this problem with their Transits but no one seems to have the answer to it not even my local Fords can help one mechanic said he thinks it may be a small valve in the pump

I was talking to a guy at my filling station yesterday and he said he had the same problem, surly this should be a recall issue.
It takes thousands of nuts to hold a Transit together but only one nut behind the wheel to distribute them all over the road...
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby Airthies » Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:46 pm

Most of the vans that are affected are well out of warranty and I reckon it'd be put down to wear n tear and told to get a new steering rack.
I suspect now it's actually the hydraulic arbitrol valve section of the rack in the centre position (where it is most) the control circuit for providing oil in required direction is either bypassing or more likely sticking when initial demand is made for oil.
And it will either be a strip/service/clean/overhaul of your rack or a replacement one to resolve the issue.

Seeing how black and the amount of debris was in my oil when changed I reckon it's just simply gummed up valving as there's only microns of clearance in the hydraulic components and it takes next to nothing to cause problems with those clearences.

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2009 350T200 LWB medium roof, converted to 4x4 (the 2nd namby-pamby job)
2008 350LWB 115PS ex welfare van
2008 350LWB 115PS ex fitters van "retired" :cry:
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby reevco62 » Wed Mar 06, 2019 5:35 pm

Thanks for. the reply sounds like it's going to be a new rack then
It takes thousands of nuts to hold a Transit together but only one nut behind the wheel to distribute them all over the road...
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby Mike.kirkman,derby » Wed Feb 16, 2022 7:15 pm

Hi all, did anyone find a fix for this?
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby Pro-Active » Thu Feb 17, 2022 5:17 pm

I have this problem how should I change the oil/fluid for the power steering and what oil/fluid do I need to buy?

Thank you in advance for any information
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby gt_addict » Thu Feb 17, 2022 6:32 pm

Currently got this problem. Changed the fluid twice and it hasnt helped. Only really a problem when its cold weather, must be to do with viscosity of the fluid. I’m living with it for now. I did find that not leaving the steering wheel centred helped. What i mean is when I park i make sure the steering wheel is turned 90degs either way. It helps with the initial “sticking” point until the fluid is warm
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby reevco62 » Sun Mar 20, 2022 9:03 pm

Now 5yrs on and not got any worse
Still the same so living with it
It takes thousands of nuts to hold a Transit together but only one nut behind the wheel to distribute them all over the road...
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Re: Power steering flat spot problems

Postby andz327 » Mon Mar 21, 2022 5:41 am

reevco62 wrote:Now 5yrs on and not got any worse
Still the same so living with it
I've also had the problem for a few years, I'll eventually get round to diagnosing?....... maybe not

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