My Steering Just Got Really Stiff!

[reppiz]

No idea what has just happened, I was just shopping, located my spot, pulled up ready to reverse in and my steering was almost un moveable, paused for a minute, selected reverse and backed in ,with the steering locked then it was fine..Any ideas folks? Only just got my car back after the recent turbo blowing

[Stoney871]

Power steering has gone out obviously.

Has it resolved itself or still ongoing?

If it went suddenly maybe the pump has seized or the belt has gone.

Check fluid reservoir and lines from the pump.

If it went at idle speed the pump might have shut off due to a duff pressure switch.

[Bigdaddycain]

I thought the power steering on mk2 TDCI's was electric? (it is on mine) The only issue i had (just the once) was when i parked up at the kerbside with the wheels on lock, as i tried to pull away the car rolled back so the front tyre was wedged against the kerb... as i tried to turn away from the kerb A red warning light flashed up on my dash, and a warning saying "power steering failure"... Steering went dead heavy!

I switched off the engine, got out, pushed the car away from the kerb, re-started the car, and all was well... It's never happened since.

[reppiz]

I thought the power steering on mk2 TDCI's was electric? (it is on mine) The only issue i had (just the once) was when i parked up at the kerbside with the wheels on lock, as i tried to pull away the car rolled back so the front tyre was wedged against the kerb... as i tried to turn away from the kerb A red warning light flashed up on my dash, and a warning saying "power steering failure"... Steering went dead heavy!

I switched off the engine, got out, pushed the car away from the kerb, re-started the car, and all was well... It's never happened since.

It seemed fine afterwards but it was really tough to move, is there anywhere I could check to see if there's a problem? I don't get how it went from being completely stiff to absolutely fine in the space of two minutes? Cheers for your help guys, Having just experienced the turbo blow and being stranded, I really don't want that all over again

[artscot79]

newer mk2.5 is electric mk2 is hydraulic unless the car when bought new was ordered with the adjustable steering set up ie sport mode etc

[reppiz]

newer mk2.5 is electric mk2 is hydraulic unless the car when bought new was ordered with the adjustable steering set up ie sport mode etc

No idea how it went from being near impossible to move to as it always is

[paramaniac]

The MK2 has hydraulic steering but an electric motor pump which moves the fluid from side to side. This pump would stop working intermittently on my old car. Local Ford dealership quoted about £400 to replace, however I got a 2nd hand pump online from a newer model for about £120 then paid a friend to fit it for about £50.

[paramaniac]

PS: it's a known fault, see the TSBs on here: http://www.fordproblems.com/tsbs/Focus/2006/