Steering problem I have a 90 Maxima which steers left when accelerating. It corrects itself when speed is steady. It does this at all speeds. I can be doing 50 and hit passing gear and the car veers left, and the moment I back off the accelerator the car goes back to the right. Power steering - but what component ? Thanks

When you turn at low speed you most likely had your foot on the brake. As such, you are loading up the front suspension i.e. weight shifted to the front. Backing up at low speed has the same effect of loading up the front suspension. Your front tires contact patch to the pavement also increase in area -- think about the tire is less round but more flat surface touching the pavement.
In both cases (low speed/foot on the brake and backing up), they put more stress on the steering and thus the steering pump.

Hopeful fixes:
1) check tire pressure of both front wheels especially the sound occurred more often when turning left than right. The correct tire pressure when cold reduces the resistance from turning the steering wheel
2) check and/or replace steering pump belt(s). When they are worn out, they became inefficient in helping the steering pump to provide needed pressure to assist steering. Now the steering pump has to work 'harder' to provide the needed assistance to the steering

3) your steering pump is wearing out. Not totally dead yet. In cold days, the steering fluid is 'thick' --think viscosity. It is less efficient in circulate the pump. As such, a 'weak' pump has to work harder to make the thick fluid to circulate (to provide steering pressure). Mechanics refer to this cold days steering noise as "Morning Sickness". You can try to mitigate the problem by changing the steering fluid. You might need to change it a few times before the fluid in the entire system is purged and completely replaced.

Hopefully, inflating the tires to the correct cold temperate; changing the belts and/or complete steering fluid flush could solve your problem. They are all much less expensive than replacing the steering pump.

There are many stages of vibration. The most common is in the steering and USUALLY a steering dampner will correct this. However, your description is not real defined and until the technician actually experiences it, it cannot be properly diagnosed

How new are your tires and when was the last time for a front end aliment?That might be it.

Part blockage in oil lines or bad steering rack. Flush system and check. If no improvement repair/replace rack.

You need wheel bearings.. One for sure maybe 2. Do you feel it in the steering wheel or floor? The floor usually means rear and the steering wheel usually means front. Hope this helps. It should change pitch when you drive left to right at a steady speed. :-) Cobra

A front wheel drive car pulls with the same wheel it steers with. So if any part of the suspension,or steering linkage is warn , torque from acceleration will pull the drive wheel to the side. After 15 years on the road : my guess is warn-out tie-rod-ends. See a mechanic.It won't be cheap, but a hole-lot easyier !

Hello,
First the vehicle has to be operating at least 35mph. There will be two sets of switches, one set is to the left and the other set is to the right of the horn on the steering wheel. The switches on the left will be labeled on/off, the ones on the right we be labeled Coast/Accel/Resume..

At a steady highway speed press the ON switch, (at the left hand side of the horn) This will activate and turn the speed control system ON...

Then you have to set and adjust your desired speed...

To SET YOUR DESIRED speed , press and hold the accel switch (Right side of Horn) until your desired speed has been reached and then release the switch.. Speed control will now be on, activated and set, you will be in cruise mode..

If you need to coast due to possible traffic, press and hold the coast switch as long as you need to.. This is like taking your foot off of the accelerator pedal.. When you let go of the coast switch you will return to you set cruising speed.

Stepping on the brake pedal at any time will deactivate the system.. If you step on the brake, and then want to return to your previous set cruising speed... All you have to do is press resume...

I hope this has helped you? You can find detailed speed control activation instructions in your 2005 Ford Focus Owners manual.. If you did not receive your owners manual when you bought the vehicle.. You can purchase one at your local Ford, Lincoln or Mercury dealership..

Bill Andrade Ford Master Technician/Shop Foreman

Drive slowly down the middle of a straight road, let the steering wheel go and apply the brakes. If the car wants to turn by itself check your ball joints and shocks. If the car remains straight you may have an irregular wearing tire which causes it wonder at higher speeds.
I hope this helps
Sam

At idle speed the the pressere deliver by your steering pump are low; try to modified your pulley to increase the speed at low idle.

No, the problem is not yet overcome, but it appears as if this fixer-uper has been fixed up before with steering parts that are not compatible with '98 Jimmy's. I've left it in the hands of a local GM geru who claims to be able to fix it. I'll keep the email and keep you posted.