Power Steering Fluid

Keane2baMused

Now I know sweet flip all about cars but the power steering fluid needs changing on my partners car. He went to halfords and the guy there knew sfa about it also and gave him the bother standard one they sell. He drives an '04 focus saloon.

Now I was getting my own car fixed in a garage and I asked the mechanic about it. He said to be very careful with the fluid as some cars need a specific type and he would probably be better to get it done in a garage.

Anyone know if that's the case or could it be done at home? He's not the best with car maintenance just to add :-p

toastedpickles

Keane2baMused wrote: »

Now I know sweet flip all about cars but the power steering fluid needs changing on my partners car. He went to halfords and the guy there knew sfa about it also and gave him the bother standard one they sell. He drives an '04 focus saloon.

Now I was getting my own car fixed in a garage and I asked the mechanic about it. He said to be very careful with the fluid as some cars need a specific type and he would probably be better to get it done in a garage.

Anyone know if that's the case or could it be done at home? He's not the best with car maintenance just to add :-p

Generally speaking no, if you were to change the fluid yourself you'd need to drain the system somehow, usually by disconnecting a pipe buried somewhere along the line, refitting the pipe, refilling it, bleeding the system, and god knows what else, I'm basing this off my own cars procedures having nearly 10 years between them and they have similar methods, I'd presume most cars go along the same lines, so to be honest I'd be sending it to a decent indy mechanic who knows his stuff!

George Dalton

Why does the fluid need changing?

Keane2baMused

Well the fluid that's in it is as black as tar :-/

Also its like trying to drag 500 tonnes when turning the wheel (I am a girl but I physically could not turn the car when trying to do a 3 pointer, dp had to do it!)

mickdw

Keane2baMused wrote: »

Well the fluid that's in it is as black as tar :-/

Also its like trying to drag 500 tonnes when turning the wheel (I am a girl but I physically could not turn the car when trying to do a 3 pointer, dp had to do it!)

Get it to a mechanic. The car seems to have issues.

biko

Is it this bottle?
It's rated for Ford so should be good.

DIY but maybe in your case go to a local mech, could be more issues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyOy35qSJWM

martinr5232

Keane2baMused wrote:

Well the fluid that's in it is as black as tar :-/

Keane2baMused wrote:

Also its like trying to drag 500 tonnes when turning the wheel (I am a girl but I physically could not turn the car when trying to do a 3 pointer, dp had to do it!)

ATF is good enough for that but its likely your power steering pump is gone faulty from the fluid not being changed.