Very heavy steering

[Galaxy55]

My galaxy has no power steering. Steering is very heavy when the car is still. You can hear the pump trying to work as the steering is turned and when moving although slightly heavier than normal reasonable easy to steer. Just need some help identifying the problem before jumping in and replacing components.

Thanks - any help appreciated.

[daddyfixit]

check nearside wheel/tyre to see if its wet with power steering fluid----rack failure squirts oil out all over the place.    under the black cover over battery is the power steering reservoir, if that is empty its probably the rack ?

[Galaxy55]

Will check tomorrow - silly question but how do I know if it is Mk2 or Mk3???

[brianh]

If the back seats can be removed and you end up with a flat floor with no footwells, its a MK2

Or if it looks like the second picture in the row of photos of the front end at the top of this page its also a mk2, the mk3 is the 7th one in the row I think.

06 model could be either.

[Galaxy55]

Thanks Mk3

[Galaxy55]

No leaks - pump sounds like it is trying to work - is there a filter in the system anywhere?

[brianh]

I think you will find theres one in the reservoir on the mk3, I'm fairly sure i've seen a post on here recently about it actually.

This isn't the post i was thinking of, but gives some details that might help
https://www.fordmpv.com/smf2/mk3-ford-galaxy-ford-s-max/2008-galaxy-power-steering-problems/msg12587/#msg12587


Further Edit - this is the post, different forum thats why i couldn't find it
http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?/topic/27794-power-steering-fault/#entry191663

[marcushamblin1976]

They definitely have a filter on the Mondeo and a new pas reservoir fixes this same problem on Mondeo's.  I would think it's probably the same part.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[Galaxy55]

Thanks for the links had read the same thing and was having difficulty finding it again as well. Going to order a reservoir and swap to see if this helps. Replaced the pump about 2 years ago and seemed to cure the problem now I'm thinking all I did was clean out the system which cured the problem and it wasn't the pump.

Thanks for your help

[Galaxy55]

An up date on my car and heavy steering. Ordered a new reservoir and still waiting for it to arrive. The car was still drive-able and a miracle has happened, the steering has righted itself. Don't know what has changed but I'm not complaining. Going to still replace the reservoir when it arrives. Thinking that there must have been some kind of blockage just hoping it doesn't come back anytime soon.

[brianh]

Its possible its debris in the system blocking the filter, till you take it apart to have a look difficult to say, but guess you might find out if so.