Car shakes when accelerating. LOTS of noises.

cableguynoe

cableguynoe

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No problems until today. MY wife took the car to work, and on the way back she called and said it was making strange noises when she would turn the steering wheel.

Initially, from what she said and what i saw, i thought it was either a problem with the power steering, or the ball joints (searched several threads here that talk about them).

But what really has me confused, is that i have the car in park and i can hear a noise comning from the engine. It's REALLY loud when i turn the steering wheel. Then, when i accelerated while in park, it will not go past 3000 rpm and the car starts shaking. The weird thing is that if I'm driving at high speeds i can almost not hear anything and the car feels fine.
Why would it do this while in park?
Here's a video so you can see what I'm talking about:
Mobile Uploads :: 0820091944.flv video by cableguynoe - Photobucket

This cant be the ball joints or power steering, right?

Anyone seen this problem before?
Please help!
 
That growling/whirring noise when you turn the wheel is the power steering pump. If you check the resevoir and its full, and it still makes this noise, then the power steering pump is junk. As far as the car not revving over 3 grand, I have no idea... So, I would start by checking the fluid level, if it's full and still makes noise, thats bad. If its empty, fill it up and steer lock to lock for a minute or 2 to get the fluid worked back into the pump. Then check for signs of leaking/spraying.

Edit - Also, judging by how easily the wheel still turns while making the noise, your power steering pump is probably still good, just out of fluid or very low. If the pump was junk you wouldn't be able to move the wheel with one hand while parked.
 
the rev limiter cuts on at 3000. If you try to go past that in park the engine will start to shake.
 
you.re hitting the park/neutral rev limiter. the shaking at 3000rpm in p/n is completely normal.
 
+1. The shaking at 3k RPM is the rev limiter. Also, the noise is definitely your power steering, I would suggest checking the fluid levels.
 
Wow...good information.
The power steering was my first thought also, (BTW, the fluid is full)
But what threw me off was that it's making a noise even in neutral. IS this normal when PS pump is bad?
That's why i tried to rev it... and figured that was a problem also. I guess i had never tried that before.
 
My car makes that sound just not so loud in the winter on cold starts, its been like that since i bought it. fluids are filled and steering doesnt seem affected so i havent bother with anything yet ( had the car for close to 2 years). mayeb one day ill check into it, let us know when you find a solution.
 
Black87LSC said:
Unfortunately if your fluid is full it looks like a new power steering pump is in order...:(
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OK. I looked up PS pumps, and dont seem to be very expensive.
How hard are they to install? I'm not very good at working on cars, but i have abuddy that is, and he's helped me before. Is this an 'easy' job?

Also, is it dangerous, or bad for the car to continue driving it the way it is now?
 
cableguynoe said:
OK. I looked up PS pumps, and dont seem to be very expensive.
How hard are they to install? I'm not very good at working on cars, but i have abuddy that is, and he's helped me before. Is this an 'easy' job?

Also, is it dangerous, or bad for the car to continue driving it the way it is now?
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Yea you are fine to be driving. If I recall correctly NYC LS8 put some additive in his power steering fluid and it helps quiet that noise. Maybe he will chime in and let us know.
 
+1. I believe it was the friction modifier for limited slip differentials. But DO NOT add anything until someone confirms.
 
SlickLS said:
Yea you are fine to be driving. If I recall correctly NYC LS8 put some additive in his power steering fluid and it helps quiet that noise. Maybe he will chime in and let us know.
Click to expand...

I did, but that was for the creaking/squeaking noise heard on the inside of the car. That friction modifier quieted that. Unfortunately, it sounds like the power steering pump is shot or the fluid is severely burned, which what I did will not help. Sounds like new pump/fluid time.
 
NYC LS8 said:
Sounds like new pump/fluid time.
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Any reason to get this pump from the dealer? Or will any pump at my local auto parts be good enough?

Also, is it more complicated than just swaping it out?
What I mean is, any kind of bleeding, adjusting, or anything else like that need to be done that might require someone that really knows what they're doing?
 
cableguynoe said:
Any reason to get this pump from the dealer? Or will any pump at my local auto parts be good enough?

Also, is it more complicated than just swaping it out?
What I mean is, any kind of bleeding, adjusting, or anything else like that need to be done that might require someone that really knows what they're doing?
Click to expand...

Any aftermarket pump for your application should work. They mass produce these so it's to their advantage to make the right part. It's relatively easy, right tighty left loosey, just be sure not to way overtighten anything and strip the threads. If your buddy hasn't done one before, I'd set aside a day so you can make sure you get it in there in one workload. I've done them, but never on an LS, they are all arranged different depending on the car. No bleeding or adjustment, just undo the lines and bolts holding it in (and connectors if any), reverse procedure. The part that takes the time is if something else on the front of the motor is bolted to it (usually everything is interconnected and takes a fair amount of time to dismantle). After its all in, fill it up and steer it lock to lock for a minute or 2 to get the pump full (I guess you'd call this the bleeding process). The noise should go away, then check the resevoir and make sure its full to the right mark. Check for leaks, and you're done. By the way, you can drain the pump and put transmission fluid in there to thicken it up, this may or may not help for a little while, but its just a temporary fix.
 
And hopefully you have some type of syphon pump, as it could get messy with the resevoir still containing fluid.
 
Black87LSC said:
By the way, you can drain the pump and put transmission fluid in there to thicken it up, this may or may not help for a little while, but its just a temporary fix.
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I am pretty sure that the LS runs ATF in the power steering anyways instead of power steering fluid.
 
SlickLS said:
I am pretty sure that the LS runs ATF in the power steering anyways instead of power steering fluid.
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Wait seriously? Cuz I just topped mine off with an all-blending power steering fluid. Added enough to bring the line from just below minimum up between normal/max.

Did I just eff something up by not using ATF? :eek:
 
Andrizzle said:
Wait seriously? Cuz I just topped mine off with an all-blending power steering fluid. Added enough to bring the line from just below minimum up between normal/max.

Did I just eff something up by not using ATF? :eek:
Click to expand...

Well the owners manual calls for ATF and if you don't believe me then check it out in the TECH ARTICLES. I don't know if you messed something up but I am not sure if mixing the two are good because they might not mix properly. Safe bet would be to drain the system then fill it will all the same fluid whether you use all power steering fluid or ATF, but dealer says to use ATF.
 
I have already driven it alot with it. So I think it will be okay since I did not add very much. But damn I shoulda looked in the manual... I figured power steering fluid reservoir would need power steering fluid... x.x

Well if my steering pump dies soon I know it is my fault at least. Thanks for the info though, never doing that again!

I have been treating my LS like crap lately, I feel so bad... First I accidentally filled up with 10% ethanol on a full tank.

Second I am 500 miles and 1 month passed my oil change date (msg center says 17% oil life remain)

Now I just filled up the steering fluid with steer fluid...haha
 
Andrizzle said:
Second I am 500 miles and 1 month passed my oil change date (msg center says 17% oil life remain)
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I always wait until the cars says its time to change the oil (unless it's too close to the really cold season). I know it shoud be every 3,000 miles, but hey the car should know itself better than me.
 
cmack said:
I know it shoud be every 3,000 miles, but hey the car should know itself better than me.
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Not true. The LS uses a synthetic blend of oil and so it can go longer between oil changes. Synthetic oil takes longer to break down than regular oil therefore it lasts longer and that is why the oil life on the LS is longer than 3000 miles
 
So should I go by the Message Center oil life? Or just go by the oil change mileage/date
 
SlickLS said:
Not true. The LS uses a synthetic blend of oil and so it can go longer between oil changes. Synthetic oil takes longer to break down than regular oil therefore it lasts longer and that is why the oil life on the LS is longer than 3000 miles
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Most Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles made after 2000 all use the synthetic blend motor oil, and the owners manual in Ford and Mercury vehicles states that with combined driving (highway/city) you can go 4000 miles between oil changes.

I use CenPeCo in both my Lincoln and my BMW and I can get 10,000 miles to a single oil change, but since all of the oil filters that I have found on the market only go to a max of 7500 miles thats when I change my oil.
 
this is strange

Sorry to bring this topic back up... but if you see the video you will see how loud the power steering noise was...

Well, today my buddy came over that was going to help me replace it... PS pump in hand, and... nothing!!

NO NOISE!

We drove around for half an hour and nothing. Perfectly fine.

Now, i hadn't drove it in about 4 days. But since it happened i still drove it for about 3 days and not ONCE did the noise stop or get better at all.

We ended up not doing anything. What do you guys think?

Should the pump be replaced anyway? Or maybe just the fluid? I was thinking of going to buy some kind of additive fluid to throw in there,..
really not sure what to do.

The pump was $80... I know it's not a lot, but since i also have to replace my window regulator now:( , i could really use that money.
 
I am confused by your post. So is the noise gone? Or did it go away and now it is back? What the fack?
 
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