I have a 2000 Caravan 3.3 that is harder than normal to turn in parking lot maneuvers. There is no whining from the pump it is quiet and fluid is full. Also there is a grinding noise when turning the wheels when stopped. Anybody know what these problems could be or if they're related? Vehicle has about 165,000 miles on it.

 

Either the rack n pinion is the problem or the pump is not applying enought pressure the rack. The grinding sound maybe the p/s system has air in it. Try flushing the p/s and have the pump pressure ck'ed.

 

Yep, what he said.

I have a 2000 GC 3.8 and it did the exact same thing at 169,000 miles.

 

OK guys thanks. I told her I thought the pump was not applying enough pressure. As far as the grinding goes if there was air in the system would not the pump whine? I was thinking the grinding might be the strut plates maybe? I can't tell from the outside of the vehicle, can only hear it from the inside.

I have no way of pressure testing the PS system, never even heard of that. Do people really do that? Should I just start with the pump and hope for the best?

I was a Ford tech for 5 years but that was 9 years ago.

 

look at your top plates....with the help from a friend, ask him to turn de weels (with the front wheels not touching the ground,car not running just key on) and just put your hand on the coil spring and look at it.....does it turn with the wheel or it "jumps"?

If it jumps replace both top plates assembly....

You can also try bleeding the PS......key on pull the PS cap off....n turn the wheels from one side to the other like 20 times......then top up fluid and start it and pray lol

 

OK thanks I'll try this first.

 

Some have had trouble with the screens inside the power steering reservoir clogging and starving the system for fluid.

The reservoir itself is inexpensive to replace.

 

She brought the van back over yesterday and I jacked it up and crawled under there. The PS pump is leaking (and so is the tranny pan). Then checked the PS fluid and yep it was low. So a pump it is. I also concluded that the drivers side strut plate is what is making the grinding noise.

Thanks for all the replies guys you've been a great help.