When I first start my truck I have power steering but after the engine gets hot it goes away. The dealer wants $85 just to look at it and told me it will be between $400-$1800 to fix depending on what is wrong. Any ideas? My first thought was the pump but wasnt sure being it works sometimes.

 

Your dealer is smokin crack if they think it will be 1800 bones, you can get a tranny rebuilt for that

Try replacing the fan belt before you take it to the dealer, may be the problem, if not then I'd guess its the pump. I always start cheap and work to expensive haha

 

The P/S pump alone is roughly $130 bones, and the install... you are looking at probably $250 to $300... but like said earlier, try the fan belt first. I recommend a Gatorback or else another Motorcraft... don't go cheap!

 

Thanks guys. I am leaning more towards the pump than the belt b/c you can hear the pump making a clicking noise when you try and turn it when its hot.

The dealer was saying it could be something to do with the pinion? Any thoughts on that?

 

is the steering fluid ok?

 

Highly doubt its the pinion esp since it sometimes works...propby the pump, more I think about it, fluid probly blows past a seal or somethiong once it gets thinner

 

Yeah fluid was the first thing I checked.

I thought the same thing. It works fine when you first start it up and say you are trying to turn in to a parking place if you give it a little gas the wheels seem to turn easier, not good but easier. Its really strange. I think I will just go ahead and buy a pump and put it on. I can buy the pump for not much more than the dealer wants just to diagnose it. Appreciate the help from everyone.