Odd steering issues

[wtucker]

I have a 92 continental. I am getting a noise that is related I think, to the steering. I think steering because when at idle, with the A/C on, I have a sort of vibration, or grinding kinda of noise that goes away if I turn my steering wheel to the left. If I turn it to the right it gets louder. The noise comes from the front of the car and I can kind of feel it in the steering wheel as well. When I step on the gas, like leaving at a stop light, it goes away as the rpm's pick up. I have also noticed when driving on the highway, turning into a curve, you have pressure on the steering wheel right, well then it seems as though the pressure required to hold the wheel in the turn becomes a lot less. What I mean is this: if turning to the right, and we're at highway speeds here, it seems as though the wheel will almost move further right on it's own, as though very little, or no effort is required to hold it in the turn. This happens just for a second or 2, then goes away. I've felt it happen while turning both directions. I'm thinking it probably has something to do with that vaps system. I'm not sure about this system, so any ideas and thoughts would be very helpful.


Will/Phx, AZ.

 

[MichiganTeddyBear]

1st, verify the serpentine belt, and p/s fluid. change the fluid if you want, it wont hurt. BTW, it uses ford type F trans fluid in the p/s. if you change the fluid, make sure you get all the air out of the system, do a search or look in the service manual for the procedure. if you dont get the air out, your gonna be fighting air in the system while trying to find other possible problems


2nd, are there ANY issues with the speedo?? the VAPS gets its speed info from the VSS, as well as the EEC, A/S computer, cluster, and a whole handfull of other systems. if the speedo is dropping out, change the VSS, it may fix your problem (and its not a real expensive part either).

while not unheard of, its not real common for the VAPS to fail, and the rack my be suspect as well, if all the other stuff is working right.

 

[wtucker]

1st, verify the serpentine belt, and p/s fluid. change the fluid if you want, it wont hurt. BTW, it uses ford type F trans fluid in the p/s. if you change the fluid, make sure you get all the air out of the system, do a search or look in the service manual for the procedure. if you dont get the air out, your gonna be fighting air in the system while trying to find other possible problems


2nd, are there ANY issues with the speedo?? the VAPS gets its speed info from the VSS, as well as the EEC, A/S computer, cluster, and a whole handfull of other systems. if the speedo is dropping out, change the VSS, it may fix your problem (and its not a real expensive part either).

while not unheard of, its not real common for the VAPS to fail, and the rack my be suspect as well, if all the other stuff is working right.

The belt and p/s fluid are both fairly new and need no attention. ANY issues with the speedo? Well, sometimes I've seen it reading 10 mph while sitting at the stop light. And sometimes my check dcl light flashes on and chimes. My brake lamp warning light chimes most of the time, but I read in my owners manual that will happen when you change the head lamps. My washer fluid warning light chimes every time I start the car even after filling it with washer solution.
Do you really think these things may cause this vibration I am feeling and hearing when at idle and turning the steering wheel to the right?

 

[MichiganTeddyBear]

ok, if your occasionally getting a speedo reading while sitting still.. either a bad vss, or a problem in the wiring from the vss to the rest of the car. this could have an effect on the steering system, as the VAPS gets data from the vss. whether or not it is your exact problem, I dont know for sure.

the check dcl is bad solder joints on the 2 black connectors on the back of the cluster. need to pull the cluster (fairly easy, actually), and re-work the cluster itself. it may also clear up one of the codes you have posted in the other thread (the data comm one).

with as much of these cars inter-linked like they are, a seemingly totally seperate, seeming minor problem may be the cause of a more severe issue.

 

[wtucker]

ok, if your occasionally getting a speedo reading while sitting still.. either a bad vss, or a problem in the wiring from the vss to the rest of the car. this could have an effect on the steering system, as the VAPS gets data from the vss. whether or not it is your exact problem, I dont know for sure.

the check dcl is bad solder joints on the 2 black connectors on the back of the cluster. need to pull the cluster (fairly easy, actually), and re-work the cluster itself. it may also clear up one of the codes you have posted in the other thread (the data comm one).

with as much of these cars inter-linked like they are, a seemingly totally seperate, seeming minor problem may be the cause of a more severe issue.

Yea, I remember when I pulled the cluster the last time to fix some thing, I broke all the solder joints on the plug on the right side of the dash. I mean I pulled it all right out, so none of the info center items are selectable. I mean I still get the info, I just can't select any thing or reset the service light etc.... I suppose I should try and resolder the wires, but was so disapointed in breaking it the first time I have been hesitant in pulling it out again. I had some issues (obviously) with getting the plugs out the last time, hench the broken plug.