Ford Galaxy / Ford S-MAX. Manual — part 20

Listen for steering whine noise with the vehicle parked, transmission in neutral and all
windows closed in the following test conditions.

1. 1. Engine speed at 1800 +/- 50 rpm with no steering action.

2. 2. Engine speed at 1800 +/- 50 rpm with slow 90 degrees turning of the steering

wheel.

3. 3. Engine speed at 3000 +/- 50 rpm with no steering action.

4. 4. Engine speed at 3000 +/- 50 rpm with slow 90 degrees turning of the steering

wheel.

Power Steering Hiss Noise

Test Condition

Listen for steering hiss noise with the vehicle parked, transmission in neutral and all
windows closed in the following test conditions.

Symptom

Possible Sources

Action

Power steering system whine noise – a
high pitched buzzing sound like an electric
motor or drill. Whine occurs at the higher
engine rpm, 1500 - 5000 rpm, frequency
does not change if system is loaded or not
loaded.

Power steering
fluid aeration.

BLEED the power steering
system.
REFER to:

Power Steering

System Bleeding

(211-00

Steering System - General
Information, General
Procedures).

Incorrect power
steering fluid.

FLUSH the power steering
system. REFER to:

Power Steering System
Flushing

(211-00 Steering

System - General
Information, General
Procedures),

Overheated power
steering fluid.

FLUSH the power steering
system. REFER to:

Power Steering System
Flushing

(211-00 Steering

System - General
Information, General
Procedures),

Hydraulic
operating
condition of the
power steering
pump.

Certain amount of noise level
acceptable, not a safety critical
item.

Symptom

Possible

Sources

Action

NOTE: Engine speed at idle turning the steering wheel
slowly lock to lock.

Power steering system hiss noise – a high frequency,
continuous rush or swish noise like escaping air from a
balloon. Hiss occurs while turning between the steering
lock stops, all steering angles. Noise does not change with
engine rpm and is worse at high operating temperatures.

Floor seal.

CHECK the
installation and
potential damage of
the floor seal.

Power
steering gear
valve design.

Certain amount of
noise level
acceptable, not a
safety critical item.

Power
steering

Certain amount of
noise level

Power Steering Lock Stop Impact Knock Noise

Test Condition

Listen for steering knock noise with the engine speed at idle in the following test conditions
(noise also apparent with engine off).

1. 1. Turn the steering wheel to the left-hand and right-hand steering locks and listen

for the impact noise.

Power Steering Mechanical Knock Noise (PAS off)

Test Condition

Listen for steering knock noise with the engine off in the following test conditions (no power
assist).

1. 1. Turn the steering wheel 90 degrees to the right, hold and then quickly release.

2. 2. Turn the steering wheel 90 degrees to the left, hold and then quickly release.

Power Steering Mechanical Knock Noise (PAS on)

Test Condition

Listen for steering knock noise with the engine speed at idle in the following test conditions
(power assist).

1. 1. Turn the steering wheel to a steering lock and return to center quickly.

2. 2. Turn the steering wheel 90 degrees to the left and then 90 degrees to the right

quickly.

system
hydraulic
design.

acceptable, not a
safety critical item.

NOTE: Engine speed at idle holding the steering wheel
against a steering lock for three seconds. Do not hold
for more than five seconds.

Power steering system hiss noise – a continuous noise like
escaping air occurs while holding the steering against a
steering lock stop.

Power
steering pump
pressure relief
valve.

Certain amount of
noise level
acceptable, not a
safety critical item.

Symptom

Possible Sources

Action

Power steering system knock noise – a
heavy loud sound like a knock on a door
that occurs in parking condition when
hitting the lock stop.

Power steering gear
mechanical noise, metal to
metal at end of steering
travel.

Certain amount of noise
level acceptable, not a
safety critical item.

Symptom

Possible Sources

Action

Power steering system knock noise
– a heavy loud repeating sound like
a knock on a door that occurs in
several driving and steering
conditions.

Power steering system knock noise –
a damped, metallic knock noise
which only occurs at steering
condition with engine off (very high
efforts).

Certain amount of
noise level
acceptable, not a
safety critical item.

Tolerances in the steering gear
components.

Certain amount of
noise level
acceptable, not a
safety critical item.

Symptom

Possible Sources

Action

Power steering system knock

Worn tie-rod ball

REFER to Steering System.

Power Steering Hammer Knock (Hydraulic) Noise

Test Condition

Listen for steering knock noise with the engine speed at idle in the following test conditions
(for vehicles with hydraulic power assisted steering only, not electro-hydraulic power
steering).

1. 1. Turn the steering wheel to a steering lock position and return quickly.

Power Steering Hydraulic Knock/Clonk Noise

Test Condition

Listen for steering knock/clonk noise in the following test conditions with the windows
closed.

1. 1. Drive over cobbled roads at low speed 10-30 km/h (6-20 mph) with and without

turning.

2. 2. Drive over straight tar strips road rails or 25 mm tall harshness strips at low speed

10-30 km/h (6-20 mph) both driving straight and with moderate turning.

Power Steering Column Knock Noise

Test Condition

Listen for steering knock noise in the following test conditions with windows closed.

1. 1. Drive over cobbled stones at low speed 16-40 km/h (10-25 mph) with and without

steering input carefully listening for knock sounds.

2. 2. Drive over straight tar strips, road rails or 25 mm tall harshness strips at low

speed 16-40 km/h (10-25 mph) both driving straight and with moderate cornering.

noise – clear knock noise from
steering gear linkage area.

joints (inner and
outer ball joints).

REFER to:

Steering System

(211-00

Steering System - General
Information, Diagnosis and Testing).

Symptom

Possible Sources

Action

Power steering system knock noise – loud, metallic
sound if hitting the suspension crossmember with a
hammer (sounds like metallic noise but is created by
pressure impulse in gear and return line).

Hydraulic noise
created by
pressure
impulses.

Certain amount of
noise level acceptable,
not a safety critical
item.

Symptom

Possible Sources

Action

Power steering system knock/clonk noise – sounds
almost identical to column knock that occurs when
driving and cornering over cobbled stones or rough
roads. Noise may appear to emanate from a location
closer to the floor than that for column knock (Sounds
like metallic noise but is created by pressure impulse in
gear and return line – similar to a sound like quickly
turning off a water tap).

Power steering
return lines.

Certain amount
of noise level
acceptable, not a
safety critical
item.

High power assist
gain of power
steering gear
valve (steering
gear design - no
quality issue).

Certain amount
of noise level
acceptable, not a
safety critical
item.

High power
steering pump
flow rate (by
design).

Certain amount
of noise level
acceptable, not a
safety critical
item.

Power Steering Toc-Toc Noise

Test Condition

Listen for steering toc-toc noise with the engine speed at idle and the vehicle parked,
automatic transmission in "P" (PARK) or manual transmission in neutral and the windows
closed.

1. 1. Turn the steering wheel from left to right abruptly changing direction.

2. 2. Drive the vehicle for low speed parking manoeuvres constantly changing steering

direction.

Power Steering Grinding Noise

Test Condition

Listen for steering grinding noise with the engine speed at idle and the vehicle parked,
automatic transmission in "P" (PARK) or manual transmission in neutral and the windows
closed.

1. 1. Slowly turn the steering wheel from lock to lock.

2. 2. Tilt and extend the steering column in various positions and slowly turn the

steering wheel from lock to lock.

Symptom

Possible

Sources

Action

Power steering system column knock
noise – a loose sounding rattle or
vibration coming from the column.
Noticeable by hearing and touch.

Steering column
or steering
column shaft.

CHECK the steering column
retaining bolts and attachments to
the steering column and secure if
necessary.
REFER to

in this section.

Check steering column and
intermediate shaft for free play or
loose components.
REFER to:

Steering System

(211-00

Steering System - General
Information, Diagnosis and
Testing).

Symptom

Possible Sources

Action

Power steering system toc-toc noise – a metallic
noise created when changing direction of
steering wheel rotation during parking
manoeuvre or at standstill.

Steering gear
(design tolerance
in steering rack).

Certain amount of noise
level acceptable, not a
safety critical item.

Symptom

Possible Sources

Action

Power steering system grinding noise – an
abrasive noise (like sand paper rubbing
against wood) occurs between moving
components such as steering wheel and the
steering column shroud.

Steering wheel to
shroud interference.

Certain amount of noise
level acceptable, not a
safety critical item.

Steering column
bearing.

Certain amount of noise
level acceptable, not a
safety critical item.

Foreign material in
contact with the
steering column
shaft.

CHECK if floor covering is
obstructing the steering
gear pinion.
CHECK the installation of
the floor seal.

CHECK the clockspring and
secure if necessary.