Ford Flex steering problem.

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

My 2014 ford flex with electric power steering has jeckyl and mr hyde persona.
It can be light normal steering for a week followed by another week of heavy steering almost as if it is not even there.
No codes, no pending codes, Alternator Voltage 14.7 Battery health is good.

Any ideas? Tie rods seem to be in good condition.

 

[Rand]

maybe some of your ground wiring is kaput from corrosion?

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

maybe some of your ground wiring is kaput from corrosion?

I should look into that. ty

 

[brages]

I assume no noises?

I had to replace racks on a 2013 Fusion and a 2013 Escape. Both threw codes, although only occasionally. The Fusion made noise. The Escape occasionally became really hard to steer.

Because of this, I feel like the electric steering on Fords was a little iffy in this time period. Have you checked for recalls?

... after I wrote this, I searched for a recall. Looks like the 2014 is not covered. Read this thread: https://www.fordflex.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=245194

From this thread:

With my 2014 sel I had hard steering last week - took it to the shop and the steering was fine. Is this intermittent before it entirely goes?
YES. It went out, then came back for a few days/week. then went out again, came back for an hour or so, the completely went. It will mess you up.



...
In my opinion, this is a major safety issue - many users found themselves unable to steer effectively when the rack died - and the fix is probably going to be replacing the rack. You have many options on price for the replacement parts, from junkyard to rebuilt, to Motorcraft (rebuilt?). The most expensive option will be over $1000 for the part. Labor is substantial, too, although IME you can do this job yourself on jackstands.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I will check my grounds once I locate them followed by getting forscan and recalibrating steering angle sensor before replacing the rack.
Yeah this is gonna suck.
One other thing I found was possible binding in the steering wheel shaft ujoint?
But i think that ua bad u joint would make a consistent problem not intermittent?

 

[brages]

Forscan may be helpful for replacing the rack. I think if you match part numbers exactly, you may not need it. I believe I didn't need it for the BBB rack; don't remember about the Fusion that I did the junkyard rack in.

Is there an issue with getting Forscan licenses due to the Ukraine conflict?

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Forscan may be helpful for replacing the rack. I think if you match part numbers exactly, you may not need it. I believe I didn't need it for the BBB rack; don't remember about the Fusion that I did the junkyard rack in.

Is there an issue with getting Forscan licenses due to the Ukraine conflict?

I can get a free trial. (there is an issue of processing payments I think?)
I think i will need it for the newer EPAS stuff, there is re-learning and rewriting procedure.
I am hoping that I wont need it.