Steering System: Other Ford Explorer III

Drift/Pull

Pull is a tugging sensation, felt by the hands on the steering wheel, that must be overcome to keep the vehicle going straight.

Drift describes what a vehicle with this condition does with hands off the steering wheel.

1. A vehicle-related drift/pull, on a flat road, will cause a consistent deviation from the straight-ahead path and require constant steering input in the opposite direction to counteract the effect.
2. Drift/pull may be induced by conditions external to the vehicle (e.g., wind, road camber).

Excessive Steering Wheel Play

Excessive steering wheel play is a condition in which there is too much steering wheel movement before the wheels move. A small amount of steering wheel free play is considered normal.

Feedback

Feedback is a roughness felt in the steering wheel when the vehicle is driven over rough pavement.

Hard Steering or Lack of Assist

Hard steering or lack of assist is experienced when the steering wheel effort exceeds specifications. Hard steering can remain constant through the full turn or occur near the end of a turn. It is important to know the difference between hard steering/lack of assist and binding.

Hard steering or lack of assist can result from either hydraulic or mechanical conditions. It is extremely important to know if this concern occurs during driving, or during very heavy or static parking maneuvers.

Nibble

Sometimes confused with shimmy, nibble is a condition resulting from tire interaction with various road surfaces and observed by the driver as small rotational oscillations of the steering wheel.

Poor Returnability/Sticky Steering

Poor returnability and sticky steering is used to describe the poor return of the steering wheel to center after a turn or the steering correction is completed.

Shimmy

Shimmy, as observed by the driver, is large, consistent, rotational oscillations of the steering wheel resulting from large, side-to-side (lateral) tire/wheel movements.

Shimmy is usually experienced near 64 km/h (40 mph), and can begin or be amplified when the tire contacts pot holes or irregularities in the road surface.

Wander

Wander is the tendency of the vehicle to require frequent, random left and right steering wheel corrections to maintain a straight path down a level road.

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Steering Linkage

1. With the parking brake applied, carry out the following: Have an assistant rotate the steering wheel back and forth 360 degrees and watch for relative motion of the studs in the steering linkage ball sockets. Watch for loose steering gear mounting.
2. Another method is to raise the front wheels off the ground, grasp the wheel at the front and rear and watch for excessive play or binding in the joints while trying to steer the wheels.
3. Install new or tighten any worn, damaged, or loose steering components.

Steering Gear Valve

1. With the vehicle in motion, place the transmission in NEUTRAL and turn the engine OFF. If the vehicle does not pull with the engine OFF, repair or install a new steering gear. For additional information, refer to «STEERING GEAR»(ref-194037-S34243415992005092600000) .
2. If the vehicle pulls with the engine OFF, cross-switch the front wheels.
3. If the vehicle pulls to the opposite side, cross-switch the front and rear wheels on the same side.
4. If the vehicle pull direction does not change, check the front suspension components, wheel alignment and frame alignment. For additional information, refer to «SUSPENSION SYSTEM»(ref-194026) or an appropriate frame dimensions manual.

STEERING COLUMN SWITCHES

Refer to appropriate Wiring Diagrams for schematic and connector information.

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1. Verify the customer concern by operating the ignition switch.
2. Visually inspect for obvious signs of mechanical and damage. NOTE: For multifunction switch concerns, refer to one of the following sections: Exterior Lighting, «INTERIOR LIGHTING»(ref-194123) . Wipers and Washers, Section «BODY SYSTEM - EXTERIOR»(ref-194068) .
3. If the concern remains after the inspection, connect the diagnostic tool to the data link connector (DLC) located beneath the instrument panel and select the vehicle to be tested from the diagnostic tool menu. If the diagnostic tool does not communicate with the vehicle: check that the program card is correctly installed. check the connections to the vehicle. check the ignition switch position.
4. If the diagnostic tool still does not communicate with the vehicle, refer to Diagnostic tool manual.
5. Carry out the DATA LINK DIAGNOSTICS TEST. If the diagnostic tool responds with: CKT914, CKT915 or CKT693 = ALL ECUS NO RESP/NOT EQUIP, refer to MODULE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK . NO RESP/NOT EQUIP for INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, go to «INFROMATION, GAUGES AND WARNING DEVICES»(ref-194055) . SYSTEM PASSED, retrieve and record the continuous diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), erase the continuous DTCs, and carry out the self-test diagnostics for the instrument cluster.
6. If the DTCs retrieved are related to the concern, go to the Instrument Cluster Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Index to continue diagnostics.
7. If no DTCs related to the concern are retrieved, proceed to the Symptom Chart to continue diagnostics.

Possible Causes

1. BJB fuse 41 (30A).
2. Circuit 37 (YE).
3. Wiring.
4. Ignition switch.

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1. CJB fuses: 15 (5A). 30 (5A).
2. Circuit 295 (LB/PK).
3. Circuit 489 (PK/BK).
4. Circuit 687 (GY/YE).
5. Circuit 16 (RD/LG).
6. Ignition switch.
7. Wiring.
8. CJB.
9. Instrument cluster.

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Ignition Switch Mechanical Check

Test the mechanical operation of the ignition switch by rotating the lock cylinder through all switch positions. The movement should not stick or bind and should return from the START position back to the ON position without assistance (spring return). If sticking or binding is encountered, check for the following

1. burrs on the lock cylinder key.
2. insufficient lube on the lock cylinder.
3. bent or damaged ignition rod.
4. object rubbing against the ignition rod.
5. excessive rubbing of the actuator against the transmission shift socket.
6. binding lock cylinder.
7. shroud rubbing against the lock cylinder.

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1. Remove the reservoir cap. Check the fluid.
2. Raise the front wheels off the floor.
3. Tightly insert the stopper of the vacuum pump into the reservoir.
4. Apply and maintain maximum vacuum.
5. Cycle the steering wheel fully to the left and right 10 times.
6. Release the vacuum and remove the vacuum pump.
7. Fill the reservoir.
8. Start the engine.
9. Reinstall the vacuum pump. Apply and maintain maximum vacuum.
10. Cycle the steering wheel fully to the left and right 10 times.
11. Stop the engine, release the vacuum, and remove the vacuum pump.
12. Lower the vehicle.
13. Install the reservoir cap.
14. Check for fluid leaks at all of the connections. If the power steering fluid shows signs of air, repeat this procedure.

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1. Fill the reservoir.
2. Remove the ignition coil fuse to disable the vehicle.
3. Raise the front wheels off the floor.
4. Turn the steering wheel from stop-to-stop while cranking the engine.
5. Lower the vehicle.
6. Fill the reservoir.
7. Install the ignition coil fuse.

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Deactivation

Note. If a seat equipped with a seat mounted side air bag and/or a safety belt pretensioner (if equipped) system is being serviced, the air bag system must be deactivated.

Note. Restraint system diagnostic tools MUST be installed under the seats in the seat side air bag (if equipped) and safety belt pretensioner (if equipped) to floor connectors.

Note. Diagnostics or repairs are not to be performed on a seat equipped with a seat side air bag with the seat in the vehicle. Prior to attempting to diagnose or repair a seat concern when equipped with a seat side air bag, the seat must be removed from the vehicle and the restraint system diagnostic tools must be installed in the seat side air bag electrical connectors. The restraint system diagnostic tools must be removed prior to operating the vehicle over the road.

Note. After diagnosing or repairing an SRS, the restraint system diagnostic tools must be removed before operating the vehicle over the road.

Note. After diagnosing or repairing a seat system, the restraint system diagnostic tools must be removed before operating the vehicle over the road.

Note. The SRS must be fully operational and free of faults before releasing the vehicle to the customer.

All Vehicles

Reactivation

All Vehicles

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1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position the vehicle on a hoist.
2. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
3. To install, reverse the removal procedure.
4. Fill, purge and leak test the system. For additional information, refer to «POWER STEERING SYSTEM PURGING»(ref-194037-S02809151672005092600000) and «POWER STEERING SYSTEM FILLING»(ref-194037-S39477573472005092600000) .
5. Check and, if necessary, align the front end. For additional information, refer to Section «SUSPENSION SYSTEM»(ref-194026) .

General Equipment

Pull Scale (30 pound capacity)

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1. Remove the steering column. For additional information, refer to «STEERING COLUMN»(ref-194037-S28364731442005092600000) .
2. To remove individual column components, only carry out the listed steps.
3. Disassemble the components in the order indicated in the following illustration and table.
4. To assemble, reverse the disassembly procedure.