So my dads 97 Mark VIII has 99K and it's doing something weird. At highway speeds it sometimes thinks it's at a lower speed so it makes the steering really light for a second and then stiffens up again. Now a month ago my mom drove his car and moved the steering wheel all the way out and now it won't go back in. Don't know if it has any correlation with that but just thought I would mention it. I am thinking its some computer malfunction but don't really know for sure. FYI, I have only experienced it at hwy speeds but my dad says it happens on speeds between 30 MPH to 50 MPH also. SO what do you guys think?
Speed sensitive steering wheel problem
- Thread starter mark0101
- Start date
Right on the Mark
Dedicated LVC Member
The wheel not going back in is just the switch and not related to the SSS. I has the exact same problem with my red car. It was in easy mod all the time. It would be all over the place on highway. It was the worst when going on sweeping on and off ramps. It would pulse the wheel freaky. I replace rack and back to normal.
chris2523
93 Mark VIII
yeah mine did about the opposite, it would cut all the steering assist on the highway and then snap it back on when i went to turn.
flushing the power steering fluid helped, i eventually put both a rack and a pump in it. so that fixed it.
flushing the power steering fluid helped, i eventually put both a rack and a pump in it. so that fixed it.
NoLimit95
Dedicated LVC Member
My old 94 done the steering pulse when turning onto a ramp at around 40 to 50. I put in a nice 93 rack and it was better than it ever had been. No more pulsing.
unity
Dedicated LVC Member
If replacing just the rack helped, then it has nothing to do with variable assist. That is controlled at the pump via solenoid. If the assist "system" fails, you get full assist at all times. As speed increases power is proportionally applied to the solenoid to restrict fluid flow.
So you have a variable solenoid and a speed sensor in the steering shaft. Either might fail. The solenoid fails in the retracted position giving full time assist, usually. The speed sensor in the shaft is designed to detect steering wheel turn. If on the highway and sudden movement is made, solenoid power is cut and full assist kicks in to help in something such as an avoidance maneuver.
Either part rarely fails. To test, simple unplug the variable solenoid at the PS pump. If there is still an issue, its related to another part.
So you have a variable solenoid and a speed sensor in the steering shaft. Either might fail. The solenoid fails in the retracted position giving full time assist, usually. The speed sensor in the shaft is designed to detect steering wheel turn. If on the highway and sudden movement is made, solenoid power is cut and full assist kicks in to help in something such as an avoidance maneuver.
Either part rarely fails. To test, simple unplug the variable solenoid at the PS pump. If there is still an issue, its related to another part.