Hi!
I hope someone can help me. I drive a 1999 Ford Taurus Wagon on a mail route. (I'm a sub so only work one or two days a week.) I am having problems with the power steering. I had a new power steering pump installed and thought the problem was solved but that apparently was not the problem. It worked fine for about 40 minutes on the route Saturday, then it started whining again when I turn the wheel. This had happened a couple of times before and then the power steering went out completely, so then we had the new pump put in. This past Saturday, I did NOT want to have to drive it again (the route is 5+ hours in the car!) without power steering so I drove back home and switched to a back up car. (Thankful to have that!) Before we had the pump put in, I drove it for about 2 - 2 and 1/2 hours without power steering, not an easy task! When I started the car this morning in order to drive it home and to our garage, the whining started immediately and continued, whereas before, the car always did fine until it got warmed up.
What else can be causing this?? I 'd like to have some clues before I take it back to my mechanics. This is very frustrating. It is a pain in the rear to have to transfer all my mail and packages to a backup car and I will NOT be driving this Ford again until I am sure it is fixed.
I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks so much!

 

check this link out, it helped me in a similar situation Ford Taurus Forum • View topic - 1999 Taurus bad Power Steering or bad Rack problems

 

Thank you for this information. I am printing it out and taking it with the car to my mechanics. And hoping this is the problem - sounds like it won't be too expensive to fix! I really appreciate it! Blessings to you!

 

Just find out where the leak is; sounds like its a rack problem, but I'm not there.