The Ford Focus of Death, Episode I: The Brown Trouser Moment

Janesy B · 31 Jul 2009 at 09:22

Zip said:
Wack it into neutral?

Also surly if the power steering cuts out (nver had it happen) then it just makes the steering heavyer to drive but not impossible? Or is there soemthing that really ****s witht he steering so its reall;y really heavy much more then a non power steering car in the first place?

I drive a car with no power steering all the time

Well once the pump has stopped working, you're pushing all the fluid around the system as well so it'll feel heavier than a non power steering car.

Matt82 · 31 Jul 2009 at 09:25

Janesy B said:
Well once the pump has stopped working, you're pushing all the fluid around the system as well so it'll feel heavier than a non power steering car.

the faster PAS rack will also make it heavier than a non pas car because of the gearing.

still wouldnt let that make me come to a stop on a motorway

Firestar_3x · 31 Jul 2009 at 09:27

Lack of PAS when doing over 15mph isn't really too much of an issue tbh, yes its got more weight to it than before but its fine, nasty place to brakedown, i was overtaking someone on a back road, half way past and my EPC (Electronic Throttle) light comes on i've now got no power and i'm on the wrong side of the road slowing down.... GREAT!

timbob · 31 Jul 2009 at 09:35

Zip said:
Also surly if the power steering cuts out (nver had it happen) then it just makes the steering heavyer to drive but not impossible? Or is there soemthing that really ****s witht he steering so its reall;y really heavy much more then a non power steering car in the first place?

You're correct on all fronts - it's much heavier to drive, but by no means impossible.

You're essentially having to move the hydraulic ram though, by using the levering force of the steering wheel. It requires a herculean effort to get any more than a quarter of a turn (as the hydraulic pressure builds up), but little corrections around the centre of the steering are relatively normal in terms of effort.

With a non-PAS car, you're just turning the suspension components directly, there's no hydraulic force to overcome, and no extra resistance as you use more steering lock.

Jonnycoupe · 31 Jul 2009 at 09:42

Janesy B said:
Well seeing as the pump is belt driven, no engine means power no power steering.

If you're in gear the pump should still work. Just like it does when you come off the throttle and 'have no power'

Jonnycoupe · 31 Jul 2009 at 09:43

Janesy B said:
Well once the pump has stopped working, you're pushing all the fluid around the system as well so it'll feel heavier than a non power steering car.

You mean PAS racks are higher ratio than non PAS racks?

Afterall thats the benefit of assisting the steering.

Conscript · 31 Jul 2009 at 10:23

n1blo said:
This has happened to me a couple times. It's frightnening!

I have a focus also, and it's mainly approaching roundabouts which this happens.

My speedo never cuts out, but you can notice the rev's dropping below idling point which is then followed by cutting out. Quick reset fixes, but it's rather unnerving!

It sounds like you're suffering from a different problem, where the engine revs often drop below idle causing a stall. Get it down to a Ford dealer, apparently they can fix it with an ECU update. Bit more info in this thread.. Hope it helps.

sorn21 · 31 Jul 2009 at 10:42

Conscript said:
It sounds like you're suffering from a different problem, where the engine revs often drop below idle causing a stall. Get it down to a Ford dealer, apparently they can fix it with an ECU update. Bit more info in this thread.. Hope it helps.

Thanks mate, I'm just about to shoot off to work, will read up on that later. Cheers.

Fr0dders · 31 Jul 2009 at 12:23

pah whimps

my 2nd car was a VW polo 1.4 without powersteering

you're describing loosing power steering as some kind of major event. Back when men where men we didnt need power steering

you just need bigger arms

on a more serious note, hope you get it sorted

jpmonkey69 · 31 Jul 2009 at 12:31

MrLOL said:
pah whimps

my 2nd car was a VW polo 1.4 without powersteering

you're describing loosing power steering as some kind of major event. Back when men where men we didnt need power steering

you just need bigger arms

on a more serious note, hope you get it sorted

It's a LOT harder to steer a non funtioning power steering than non power steering.....

Janesy B · 31 Jul 2009 at 12:32

My Escort didn't have power steering, the only thing that made it a pain was the fact that the rack was so slow, it took a few fair turns to get from lock to lock.

Firestar_3x · 31 Jul 2009 at 12:32

MrLOL said:
pah whimps

my 2nd car was a VW polo 1.4 without powersteering

you're describing loosing power steering as some kind of major event. Back when men where men we didnt need power steering

you just need bigger arms

on a more serious note, hope you get it sorted

Please take a moment to learn how the systems differ

If you think when your PAS fails it will be like driving a non pas car you're in for a massive shock.

Fr0dders · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:03

ive had my powersteering cut out on my vectra when the intercooler hose was playing up

caused the airmassmeter to read practically nothing causing the car to stall without warning. Of course when it stalls, the powersteering stalls

even with my big heavy vectra, i still managed to steer it ok. the OP just needs bigger arms

Ricochet J · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:06

MrLOL said:
pah whimps

my 2nd car was a VW polo 1.4 without powersteering

you're describing loosing power steering as some kind of major event. Back when men where men we didnt need power steering

you just need bigger arms

on a more serious note, hope you get it sorted

I've driven non power steered cars. Vauxhall Nova, an old Citroen and a few others. But like it was said earlier, a non functioning power steering steering wheel is more difficult to turn than a steering wheel with no power steering.

Firestar_3x · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:20

MrLOL said:
ive had my powersteering cut out on my vectra when the intercooler hose was playing up

caused the airmassmeter to read practically nothing causing the car to stall without warning. Of course when it stalls, the powersteering stalls

even with my big heavy vectra, i still managed to steer it ok. the OP just needs bigger arms

Thats slightly different try the same thing when going less than 15mph and report back.

Dogbreath · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:37

The Focus does have a problem with faulty speed sensors causing the idle control to fail, so you tend to get engine stalling whilst stopping at junctions etc. However I've never heard of a faulty speed sensor causing an engine to completely cut whilst driving along normally. Personally I'd suspect an electrical fault elsewhere.

Iraklis F.C. · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:54

did you check the if battery poles are firmly tighten? it could be them , a friend of mine didnt lock them properly and while driving he lost all power too (because one of cables didnt make contact with one of the poles)

Ricochet J · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:57

Iraklis F.C. said:
did you check the if battery poles are firmly tighten? it could be them , a friend of mine didnt lock them properly and while driving he lost all power too

Ahh brilliant I'll check them. I do know my poles DO need tightening but I've always forgotton to tighten them. Is it a simple case of spanner and tighten the nut? Thanks!

Fr0dders · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:57

Firestar_3x said:
Thats slightly different try the same thing when going less than 15mph and report back.

have done. stiutation still the same. Yes its hard, but by no means is it impossible and likely to make you crash. Am i joking about the stronger arms bit to install some humour into this thread ? yes.

stop being an argumentative *"$!

Lethagized · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:57

Sounds like a pretty unerving moment you had there op. I would have thought the loss of power steeing at 50mph wouldn't have felt much different though. It's only really noticeable in car parks and such.