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97 taurus steering problem
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lucian27
New User
Feb 19, 2010, 5:52 PM
Post #1 of 4
(1633 views)
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97 taurus steering problem
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hello
i've got a 1997 taurus, 3.0L engine, and i just replaced the alternator. after i started the car and gave it a ride to see how it works, i noticed that the power steering works very hard. i mean i really have to pull the steering wheel and to hold it, or it snaps immediately back. i opened the hood and noticed that it was very hot, even though the temperature gauge showed that everything is normal.
any suggestions?
thank you
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 19, 2010, 8:38 PM
Post #2 of 4
(1631 views)
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Re: 97 taurus steering problem
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What prompted the alternator replacement? Also, is belt fitting right? Tight enough? Did you get a new pulley with alternator or swap the old one? Some may have 6 or 7 grooves (not sure for this car but Ford pulled that on some) and the belt just won't work if all pulleys aren't the same,
T
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lucian27
New User
Feb 20, 2010, 5:30 AM
Post #3 of 4
(1625 views)
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Re: 97 taurus steering problem
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i changed the alternator because it just stopped working. About a month ago the battery light would start to flicker and then come on and off, and then at some point it just stayed lit and then the gauges turned off, then the radio and the lights inside the car, and that was it, it stopped and I couldn't start it back. I tried to jumpstart it, it would start losing power as soon as i disconnected the jumper cable. I replaced the alternator with a used one, from the junk yard. I didn't check the number of grooves on the pulley, but the belt seemed to fit alright. I did have some difficulties in putting the belt back on (it took me probably longer than replacing the alternator). I'll check it again today to see if maybe I need to tighten it a bit more, but I doesn't screech like when it's not tight enough. plus the alternator works great. I drove it for about 15 miles after replacing it and I didn't have any problems at all with it. No battery light no loss of power.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 20, 2010, 6:34 AM
Post #4 of 4
(1622 views)
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Re: 97 taurus steering problem
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Pulley is likely ok - count valleys - it would tear up fast if wrong one.
This screech seems to have just happened and the seemingly lack of power assisted steering all suggests a belt issue of some sort. They can be a pill to get back on and hard to route incorrectly and work at all.
This should be a self tensioned belt - does the tensioner go to the extreme of it's adjustment range? There were FOUR different vin codes for the 3.0 engine in 1997! Two popular belt diagrams were..........
And........
Should still be on a decal underhood anyway.
You should not be able to spin the alternator by its fins easily and if you can the belt may have a problem unknown right now. If battery was not charged separately the alternator is working (if any juice in battery) like mad to charge it at extreme load and can cause a melt down! It can work so hard belt if right could slip. I know you said you didn't think this was belt noise but it just happened AND PS isn't right so there must be some connection there.
Note: A battery run down to the point of losing dash lights is severe on the battery which may have failed! They aren't meant to discharge that low and when very low at very cold temps can also freeze/crack.
Check plug condition also at alternator. Some are famous for melting and wrong wires can touch forcing no charge or could force alternator to work so hard it's dragging down the engine. Guesses of course without seeing it all,
T
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