I have 31K miles on my 09 Lariat and for about the last 2 months when the temps get down in the 20's at night I get a loose feeling in the steering column. It lasts for about 10 minutes and then goes away and never does it again for the rest of the day. I have crawled under the dash and there is a joint in the steering column that has some sort of dark gray rubber isolator between two sections of the column and it seems as if the loose feeling is coming from this joint.

I took the truck in to the dealer several weeks ago and left it with them overnight so that they could drive it first thing in the morning while it was cold. Of course, they called later on in the day and said that they could not duplicate the problem. That's crap because it has done it every single morning since about mid December. I don't notice any freeplay in the steering wheel itself and the alignment is good. It just feels like something in the column is just not as tight as it should be but as soon as it warms up (due to engine temperature I would guess) it feels like it should.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this or has anyone else noticed this? I may try to take it to another dealer but it's just hard to be without a vehicle for a day or so.

Thanks,
SCScrew

 

are you using the correct steering fluid? temperatures can play games with different fluids. i am a jet engine mechanic and when our engines get cold soaked overnight, they tend to have a "hung start" condition. we have to motor them for 60 seconds to get the fluids moving and warmed up and it starts just fine. i use that same principle when it comes to fluids. perhaps the fluids are just too cold soaked? i would check the operating temperature of the fluid used in your power steering fluid.

 

Why would he change his power steering fluid in an 09?

 

Glad to hear I am not the only one... you state "loose steering" I think I know exactly what you are talking about, it's hard to describe. When I go over bumpy stretches of road on cold mornings, it feels like there is a tiny bit of looseness in the steering. Like the wheel just isn't as tight as it should be. But then something gradually warms up and the feeling is gone. It's not too bad, just weird for a little. Let me know if you figure it out. Definitely seems like it's in the column.

 

WIth my 09 plat the steering is loose all the time. When it was in around 17K for oil change i asked them to drive it , to see if it was a tire causing the pull and loose feeling. They aligned it on a 30 year old alignment machine and tried to charge me 65.00 i told them i never authorized any pay work to be completed. i had them copy the bill, and left them the copy.. still get work done there. but some of the things they do make me wonder. techs are great , but service writes are tool boxes for sure.

now i have about 24 on truck. while the roads around here will soon be replaced with crushed gravel. every bump seems to move the steering around like i am not even holding onto the wheel. and i have to point the wheel to the 1oclock position to drive straight , no matter the camber of the road. east or west bound lanes. The crappy feel in the front end is why i did not keep the 99 i traded in on this one.

i will mention something when its back for its next oil change i believe there is a TSB out for a steering related issue regarding a gear in the gear box..

we will see.

 

johnyb777,

That's exactly how mine acts. Something warms up and expands after a few miles of driving and then it is fine for the rest of the day. The next morning it starts all over again. I am going to try to get it in next week for them to look at it again but I am going to have the service manager drive it rather than the grease monkey techs that work at the dealership. The problem with service departments these days is that if there isn't a TSB out for an issue then they can't fix it because they don't know how to actually track down and diagnose issues. All they want to do is rely on is a TSB. I'll keep you posted.

 

why do you change your oil? fluids were meant to be changed for whatever reason. maybe the PS pump was replaced..we dont know! maybe he topped it off with an off-brand not recommended by ford. there are reasons why fluids get changed or added.

it could be fluid temperature or maybe the pump has a seal of some sort that is cold and when it expands due to temperature, it allows fluids to flow correctly..who knows. im just using my jet engine knowledge based off what i have seen. im a car mechanic too but i work on mods and addons more than i do maintenance. gotta love warranties