Check Steering Assist.....

[hansken]

Hi All
Every now and then the check steering assist light comes on. When the light is on , the is absolutly no steering assist.....
If I turn off the ignition, and then turn it back on , the Steering assists works fine....
There is no regularity in this, like every morning or so, it just work and doest according to its own mind and will......

Any advice would be greatly appriciated...

[cvpi71]

Hi All
Every now and then the check steering assist light comes on. When the light is on , the is absolutly no steering assist.....
If I turn off the ignition, and then turn it back on , the Steering assists works fine....
There is no regularity in this, like every morning or so, it just work and doest according to its own mind and will......

Any advice would be greatly appriciated...


what year car, mileage, auto suspension, etc.....

[hansken]

Its a 1997 Continental, it has the 3 various suspensions, and power steering levels.. I has ~ 100 K on it.

[Sean Mintz]

This happened to me. A new alternator fixed it right up! I would have that checked.

Sean

[pro-five-oh]

These cars are VERY susceptable to bad charging systems. Get your alternator and battery checked at a parts store ASAP. Down here in Houston, batteries don't last much longer than 3 years before they get weak, and Conti's don't like that one bit.

[DesertRider1959]

and it did not help. I have noticed that if I leave the car running for 5 or 10 min's for the A/C to cool off the car (I get many days of 100 to 115 temps) wheb I go to turn the wheel The warning comes on and to have to power steering. But it also happens for no ryme or reasone either? Has anyone ran into this or have any ideas?

I have replaced/bleed the power steering unit

Thanks

Randy Mcdonald
DesertRider1959@gmail.com

[hansken]

The batteri has been changed twice in the last five years, and the alternator has also been changed, didnt notice much differance.
I was wondering if it had any thing to do with low voltage, seem to happen more often then.....

[DesertRider1959]

Besides haveing the Alternator replaced, I to also had a new battery and I am still having the power steering error message and losing the power steering completely quite often. I have not foun and Low voltage coditions anywahere so it is still a mistery to me?

If anyone has ANY thoughts at all it would be greatly appreiciated.

Thank you

Randy Mcdonald

[TheSweetRossLg]

my light was one for 2 years ones never drove was to mouch to fix at the time so i drov emy 96 and not the 95 that it was bad on do you had TC someones if you T/C or ABS is not wroking i have seek the steering Asist go bad
but you probly have a leak in power sterring pump or one of you rack and pinion boots may be ripeds id that that check out

[98TC-Cartier]

Check and clean the connectors on the power steering rack and on the electronic control module. There are two connectors on the rack, one is for the power steering pressure switch and the other is for th variable orfice setup that determines power steering assist. There is also a rotation sensor on the bottom end of the steering column, check that connector as well. The control module lives in the module tray below the rear parcel shelf, in the top of the trunk, it is the right rear one on the tray.

Module Removal

1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.

2. Press the air suspension switch to the OFF position.

3. Remove the luggage compartment trim panel.

4. Lower the module tray.

5. Disconnect the wiring at the control module.

6. Unsnap the module from the tray clips.


You really need a shop manual for testing, try http://www.fordcds.com or ebay or a paper set from http://www.helminc.com

[hansken]

Looks like I have something to do this weekend.....:)

Thanks for your advice