Power steering stiff in my Ikon

wanderlustindia · 5th November 2008, 14:19

At the Diwali weekend in Mumbai, I was informed by Dad that someday as he was driving back home from work, he notices that the power steering is stiffer than normal.
Immediately he took it to a local mechanic to check if there was a power steering fluid leakage. But there was none or so it seems (I could not locate any oil trace below the car when parked at home and the power steering fluid box almost looked to house some oil)!

I am heading to Mumbai this weekend to get the car for a service and the power steering is one of the items to be done. Any idea what are the other possibilities apart from an oil leakage?

Help appreciated.

sukiwa · 5th November 2008, 14:31

Drive it yourself & check whether you echo your father's opinion or not.
Also check when do you feel it to be stiff. Top up power steering fluid to check if it helps. If stiffness is felt at corners, then have your wheels aligned.

Eddy · 5th November 2008, 14:58

Underinflated tyres ?

ghostrider · 5th November 2008, 15:01

How old is the car and how many kms has it run?

My old Esteem had issues where the steering had gotten too tight. Asked MASS to service the steering column and the problem went away.

wanderlustindia · 5th November 2008, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostrider

How old is the car and how many kms has it run?

My old Esteem had issues where the steering had gotten too tight. Asked MASS to service the steering column and the problem went away.

The car is Mar 2004 make. Run 55k kms till date.

bhp1 · 5th November 2008, 17:01

This happened to my Ikon too, it is a common problem with Ikon's. I had to get the whole Power steering unit changed to a new one, Cost me ~ 20k.

ghostrider · 5th November 2008, 18:13

Havent heard this happening in Ikons, to be honest. I know three Ikon owners, all of whom are 70k+ kms on their cars, and none of them are facing this issue.
Still... would recommend you take the car to a Ford authorized workshop and have them give you a diagnosis and an estimate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderlustindia

The car is Mar 2004 make. Run 55k kms till date.

mail4loys · 6th November 2008, 09:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhp1

This happened to my Ikon too, it is a common problem with Ikon's. I had to get the whole Power steering unit changed to a new one, Cost me ~ 20k.

@bhp1: I have not faced this issue, my ikon is near 60K. I thought ignition coil & fuel bumps are the know issues!

@wanderlustindia: get it check by Ford authorised dealer.

benbsb29 · 6th November 2008, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderlustindia

The car is Mar 2004 make. Run 55k kms till date.

@WLI : Did you ddrive the car and check? If you feel the same way as well, check if the tyres are underinflated first. If initial checks dont yield results, get it looked at by the service personnel.

wanderlustindia · 6th November 2008, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhp1

This happened to my Ikon too, it is a common problem with Ikon's. I had to get the whole Power steering unit changed to a new one, Cost me ~ 20k.

Thats bad news for me :(. Anyways, I guess the best option is to take it to Ford A.S.S and get it thoroughly checked.

wanderlustindia · 6th November 2008, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by benbsb29

@WLI : Did you ddrive the car and check? If you feel the same way as well, check if the tyres are underinflated first. If initial checks dont yield results, get it looked at by the service personnel.

I haven't driven the car and checked. I just started the engine and felt the steering when the car was stationary and I could feel the stiffness.

gd1418 · 6th November 2008, 13:42

Get the suspension too checked. If the ends go bad and are jammed then too the steering be stiffer.

HotChillyPepper · 6th November 2008, 13:47

By any chance your Dad normally drives a Swift ( or any electrical power steering vehicle)? I used to feel the same when I switch from a Swift to my another friends Ikon. Ikon steering is a bit harder on that vehicle from day one. But I feel that is the reason why the Ikon steerings are so sharp.

WhiteKnight · 6th November 2008, 14:27

Hasn't Ikon got HPS? Please check PS Fluid level.

aamir_subzero · 12th November 2008, 20:54

Please get your fluid topped up and your steering unit greased . m sure this will help, also make sure that the steering wheel is not glazing the plastic behind it as sometimes tat happens (i do not know why ) . Make sure none of the wire are in contact with the steering rod . Hope you solve your problem take care, drive safe .

5th November 2008, 14:19	#1
wanderlustindia BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 607 Thanked: 63 Times View My Garage	Power steering stiff in my Ikon At the Diwali weekend in Mumbai, I was informed by Dad that someday as he was driving back home from work, he notices that the power steering is stiffer than normal. Immediately he took it to a local mechanic to check if there was a power steering fluid leakage. But there was none or so it seems (I could not locate any oil trace below the car when parked at home and the power steering fluid box almost looked to house some oil)! I am heading to Mumbai this weekend to get the car for a service and the power steering is one of the items to be done. Any idea what are the other possibilities apart from an oil leakage? Help appreciated.
	() Thanks

5th November 2008, 14:31	#2
sukiwa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: pune Posts: 2,397 Thanked: 2,736 Times	Drive it yourself & check whether you echo your father's opinion or not. Also check when do you feel it to be stiff. Top up power steering fluid to check if it helps. If stiffness is felt at corners, then have your wheels aligned.
	() Thanks

5th November 2008, 14:58	#3
Eddy Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 9,565 Thanked: 14,550 Times	Underinflated tyres ?
	() Thanks

5th November 2008, 15:01	#4
ghostrider BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 745 Thanked: 506 Times View My Garage	How old is the car and how many kms has it run? My old Esteem had issues where the steering had gotten too tight. Asked MASS to service the steering column and the problem went away.
	() Thanks

5th November 2008, 17:01	#6
bhp1 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NA Posts: 513 Thanked: 5 Times	This happened to my Ikon too, it is a common problem with Ikon's. I had to get the whole Power steering unit changed to a new one, Cost me ~ 20k.
	() Thanks

6th November 2008, 13:42	#12
gd1418 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,577 Thanked: 729 Times View My Garage	Get the suspension too checked. If the ends go bad and are jammed then too the steering be stiffer.
	() Thanks

6th November 2008, 13:47	#13
HotChillyPepper BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bang_a_lore Posts: 663 Thanked: 385 Times View My Garage	By any chance your Dad normally drives a Swift ( or any electrical power steering vehicle)? I used to feel the same when I switch from a Swift to my another friends Ikon. Ikon steering is a bit harder on that vehicle from day one. But I feel that is the reason why the Ikon steerings are so sharp.
	() Thanks

6th November 2008, 14:27	#14
WhiteKnight Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,006 Thanked: 702 Times View My Garage	Hasn't Ikon got HPS? Please check PS Fluid level.
	() Thanks

12th November 2008, 20:54	#15
aamir_subzero BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 39 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	Please get your fluid topped up and your steering unit greased . m sure this will help, also make sure that the steering wheel is not glazing the plastic behind it as sometimes tat happens (i do not know why ) . Make sure none of the wire are in contact with the steering rod . Hope you solve your problem take care, drive safe .
	() Thanks