03 crown Vic police interceptor turning stiff unless accelerating around corners

[dgeorge72594]

Just bought a crown Vic when I first got in to drive I noticed it was very difficult to turn the wheel I thought the power steering fluid was low but my mechanic said to just drive it out because it was sitting, anyone know what's going on? I was thinking it was just old fluid that needed to get through the pump but I'm not totally sure please anyone that can help I just don't know or it may be the pump itself




Moved from TFI

Anandtech Administrator
KeithTalent

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I think you might want to ask the mods to move this to the garage sub forum.

 

[LTC8K6]

I think they have variable assist. It may be something wrong with whatever controls that?

 

[monkeydelmagico]

pump, rack, or alignment problem. CVPI is fingertip smooth steering wheel action

 

[Ferzerp]

CVPI is fingertip smooth steering wheel action

You say this like it is a good thing. Numb steering is one of the worst things a manufacturer can do to a car. It's trivial to do, but horrible, horrible, horrible.

 

[mizzou]

How many miles are on it?

I've heard people say that police cars were well taken care of, but to be honest, I've heard more say that they were ridden so hard that they are a ticking time bomb. The patrol cars are the worst. Hopefully it was a detectives car or supervisors car

Good luck with your vic. They are beautiful cars and it's truly like owning a piece of automotive history. Someone on Anandtech said it's the only car in the world that could be completely pedestrian, like a taxi, and then be completely bad ass as a police cruiser.

A 2010+ model would have been nice, I feel like you are going to have so many issues with a used 2003 model.

 

[JCH13]

Power steering pump issue, sounds like. By accelerating you're spinning the pump faster. When was the last time you flushed the system?

 

[monkeydelmagico]

You say this like it is a good thing. Numb steering is one of the worst things a manufacturer can do to a car. It's trivial to do, but horrible, horrible, horrible.

I said no such thing master Zerp. Boosted steering doesn't mean 0 feedback. You ever drive a CVPI? I'm doubting.....

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1967483#Post1967483

A thread with some suggestions.

 

[jlee]

I said no such thing master Zerp. Boosted steering doesn't mean 0 feedback. You ever drive a CVPI? I'm doubting.....

I have MY 2004, 2005, and 2009 anyway. Maybe 2003, but I don't remember. Other than them reversing the switch for door lock/unlock in 2009 (seriously WTF) they're basically the same.

I don't remember it being entirely numb.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I have MY 2004, 2005, and 2009 anyway. Maybe 2003, but I don't remember. Other than them reversing the switch for door lock/unlock in 2009 (seriously WTF) they're basically the same.

I don't remember it being entirely numb.

Me either, and I've owned a couple as well. CVPI handles better than it probably should and is a hoot to hoon.

 

[JCH13]

Me either, and I've owned a couple as well. CVPI handles better than it probably should and is a hoot to hoon.

Ditto.