the wifes car has started playing up, its a 1.6 zetec escort and the steering keeps going all vague, its like a delayed reaction, if you turn the wheel nothing happens for a second or so, seems to be ok at around 20mph or less, but its kind of like driving on ice,is this a symptom of the power steering pump on its way out? it had a new rack fitted about 6 months ago, so i assume thats ok, the steering column joints are tight , any ideas?cheers for any help, nick

 

stopdriving on ice then!!! only yolking m8 have you checked the bottom ball joints and wish bone bushes i think ythey have wish bones other than that when the rack was changed did the track rod ends get changed? only other thing i can think of have you checked the tyre presures. hopr this helps m8.
just read your post again have you checked there is plenty of fluid in the resevoir.

 

Could be air in the system too.. is it notchy to turn?

 

no not notchy at all,just seems to have happened in the last couple of days,its too dangerous to drive,im going to have a good look today and check out everything else,and of course its pissing it down outside

 

Check the rubber insulator half way down the steering coupling hasnt torn.

 

sorted!!!!! everything checked out ok until i went under the car, got the wife to turn the steering and noticed that the whole rack was moving side to side!!! the mounting bolts where it fits on to the subframe were loose!!!!! all sorted now, iv'e just got to get the tracking redone,cheers for help anyway folks, nick