Weird noise when in full lock

Aeleys

Aeleys

Aeleys

Soldato
Joined
25 Aug 2010
Posts
5,216
'Ello, it's a mk IV fiesta and when in full lock there is a weird noise, like a grinding cant figure out what it is, thought some of you would know or at least have a better guess than i do

cheers.
 
Do you mean when moving or stationary? If stationary, when you reach full lock you often get a noise that could be described as grinding (but more like a whining really) from the power steering pump, which is normal in my experience.

If you mean when moving slowly, a noise on full lock can likely be a knackered CV joint on a FWD car, but then that's usually more of a clunking than grinding! Grinding noise could be as simple as tyres fouling on the wheel arch. Everything standard and undamaged?
 
My MK4 Fiesta did the same, it was a brief whining noise from the PAS pump at full lock. Check the fluid level anyway just in case.
 
Liampope said:
Do you mean when moving or stationary? If stationary, when you reach full lock you often get a noise that could be described as grinding (but more like a whining really) from the power steering pump, which is normal in my experience.

If you mean when moving slowly, a noise on full lock can likely be a knackered CV joint on a FWD car, but then that's usually more of a clunking than grinding! Grinding noise could be as simple as tyres fouling on the wheel arch. Everything standard and undamaged?
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CV is a tiny bit worn, but tyres clear the arches fine, and it happens when moving very slowly/stationary

Janesy B said:
My MK4 Fiesta did the same, it was a brief whining noise from the PAS pump at full lock. Check the fluid level anyway just in case.
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i checked the level, first thing i did seems fine :p
 
Well if it definately happens when stationary you can absolutely rule out CV joint or tyre rubbing. So it sounds just like the normal whine from the pump when on full lock. If levels are fine and no leaks or owt - should be fine. If it starts to sound really nasty, followed shortly by having no power steering, you might want to get it looked at :).
 
Liampope said:
Well if it definately happens when stationary you can absolutely rule out CV joint or tyre rubbing. So it sounds just like the normal whine from the pump when on full lock. If levels are fine and no leaks or owt - should be fine. If it starts to sound really nasty, followed shortly by having no power steering, you might want to get it looked at :).
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i'll jot that down! lol

bledd. said:
I was always told it's bad for the power steering pump to be in full lock..
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so how are you meant to drive :confused: surely ford, or any other car manufacturer would have noticed this?
 
Aeleys said:
so how are you meant to drive :confused: surely ford, or any other car manufacturer would have noticed this?
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It's not a great idea to hold the wheel hard against the lock stop. The noise you hear is the pressure relief valve opening because you are making the PAS pump work into a "dead end", i.e. no fluid can flow so pressure increases dramatically. This is especially bad if the fluid is cold, and therefore more viscous.

There was an older car that had the PAS pump driven by the timing belt, and as the cars aged there were quite a few timing belt failures caused by driver holding the steering hard against the lock stop first thing in the morning. Can't remember what the make & model was now, perhaps someone on here will know? Most cars have a separate auxiliary belt for hydraulic power steering, so this is less of a problem (unless that belt snaps and gets pulled into the timing belt - not uncommon on some cars).

Oh, BTW it's 'have', not 'of'.
 
Janesy B said:
It makes the noise but the car needs to be in VTEC to compensate for the power draw so you can't hear the PAS pump ;)
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It's ok I'm powerfully built and I drink Red Bull so I can overcome any short comings on my drive to my company (I'm a director you know).
 
Dogbreath said:
It's not a great idea to hold the wheel hard against the lock stop. The noise you hear is the pressure relief valve opening because you are making the PAS pump work into a "dead end", i.e. no fluid can flow so pressure increases dramatically. This is especially bad if the fluid is cold, and therefore more viscous.

There was an older car that had the PAS pump driven by the timing belt, and as the cars aged there were quite a few timing belt failures caused by driver holding the steering hard against the lock stop first thing in the morning. Can't remember what the make & model was now, perhaps someone on here will know? Most cars have a separate auxiliary belt for hydraulic power steering, so this is less of a problem (unless that belt snaps and gets pulled into the timing belt - not uncommon on some cars).

Oh, BTW it's 'have', not 'of'.
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It's only on full lock for about 1 minute during each use (to get in and out of driveway)

and i don't know what grammar has to do with what i asked? everyone has answered with no question as to what i was saying, even with mistakes :rolleyes:
 
markyp23 said:
He answered too.

Why did you write of instead of have? Do you know it should be have? If so, why wouldn't you right it? ;) If not, now you no.
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because
1) was done on my phone
2) I'm not sitting an English test?

it baffles me that people think they are the be all and end all of the English language...:confused:
 
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