Had a problem with my 53plate ST170 for a while. The first 1/4 to 1/2 turn on the steering is really light - nice for parking but shite for fast road stuff. The car tracks down the dips/bumps in the road and you don't get the feel to correct/counter it until its gone off one way or the other.

The car has been back to ford today and they say there is nothing physically wrong with it! But it is still crap, and can swear it was never like that when new. My missus has also noticed it (this was without me saying anything to her) so I don't think it is just me.

I think the problem has occured since the last service (37.5k miles), where I think they may have changed the power steering fluid. Do you reckon it could be slightly over or under full, or possibly that the fluid needs 'bleeding' - if you have to do such a thing!

Any ideas would be helpful, as it needs to go back in next Wednesday for another warranty bit!

 

N.e. ideas n.e one?

 

they wont have touched the power steering fluid on your car unless you agreed to it


you aint got 80psi in the tyres have ya ( just asking )

37k service is just a engine service and all other work that needs doing like fluid ect they would have spoke to you about after and then you would remember cause at 90 quid plus vat for a service and then the price of the parts you would notice on the bill

cheack the links and see if there worn i supose but th ford would have noticed that too ( anything for cash )

 

The service was about £600, cos had new brake pads all round and some other stuff. IIRC the service was a major one i.e. £250, and they did the brake fluid etc. Will check the invoice tomorrow and see.

What do you do if they reckon its all ok though and we don't - how do you argue that!?

 

Jamie did you ever sort out that problem of the wheel touching the arch on bumps with your ST ?

 

This is part of it - Ford are saying theres nothing wrong with the steering/suspension. It might not be the actual wheel, but something defo touches at some point up front in dips and i'm sure its tied in with the steering issue, but trying to exclude things.

TBH it pisses me off - shouldn't have this crap with a 2 year old car!

 

If it was me i would get it booked in to a different dealer and get them to look at it. also get a master tech to come out on a test drive with you so you can demonstrate the fault.

 

just an idea here, dunno if it itll eb of any use whatsoever, but on the old fiesta racks, theres a bit grub screw type thing which you can tighten or loosen to make the steering heavier or lighter. now these are obviously none power assisted racks, dunno if the assisted ones have a similar thing, but might be worth looking into, could be a case of a couple of turns with an allen key to tighten everything back up again....

 

Andy - Think i'll have another word next week when it goes back for the auto height on the xenon lights to be fixed. Might also get the local protyre to do a geometry check and confirm everything else ok - will cost me £35 but it needs ruling out i suppose.

Xr-Stu - This is what i was hoping that it would be something like that. I was thinking bleeding of the fluid, because its a bit like when you have air in the brakes, you have travel on the pedal - its like travel in the steering.

 

go to a local chemix, they do geomentry checks for nowt

 

So sell it and forget about it

 

Don't think theres one of those around ere ?

Googled it - West Midlands area? - probably cheaper to pay the £35, cheers for the thought anyway

Stealth Bomber - I would but it still owes me too much! Not really the cars fault though, as it does every thing i want.