My 1994 F-150's power steering went out, but started working intermediately after smelling an electrical short. It has fluid and runs quiet. All hoses are connected and goes from smooth to tight in nothing flat.

hi robin.
The first sign of fluid leaking from the power steering is a pump whine, because the fluid is low, the pump will start to make a whine noise, especially when turning the steering wheel.
If you think you may have a car power steering leak, the first thing you should do is check the power steering fluid reservoir, if the fluid level in the reservoir is low, you just might have a leak in the power steering system.
Power steering fluid has a very distinctive smell, it smells like a burnt marshmallow, that is my opinion on the smell, and I'm sure you will not find that documented anywhere on the internet or any repair manual.

If you feel the steering in your vehicle binding up, or the power steering pump starting to make whine noise, it's a good sign your power steering fluid level is getting low or it's empty. Running the power steering pump with low or no fluid could be very damaging to the entire power steering system because metal particles from the pump enter the system and cause internal failure of the steering rack and to its valve body or to the steering gear box.

There is such a thing as the power steering pump failing, and even disintegrating inside, but that is not common.
Although it is not common for the pump to freeze up, you may wish to have this repaired or replaced sooner rather than later.
God bless your efforts.

What make , model an year vehicle ? GM vehicles had a recall on the electronic power steering >

You may have broken a hydraulic line on your power swearing. The hot power steering fluid smells like burned electrical insulation.

It sounds as if you have a volume of air in your power steering system. This is causing the bubbling and also some of the noise you might be generating when you turn the wheels hard right or hard left. This air might have been introduced if your old belt was slipping so much that the pump was essentially not operating and fluid wasn't regularly circulating throughout the system. Another, more expensive possibility is that your old belt was slipping because the power steering pump itself was starting to fail, and the new, grippier belt is turning the damaged pump and showing you its lack of functionality.
The first and easiest thing to do would be to bleed the system. Open the hood and take the cover of the power steering fluid reservoir. With the engine off but the steering wheel unlocked, slowly turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and then to the other. Repeat this several times while watching the power steering reservoir. Is the fluid bubbling? If so, good, you're purging air out of your system. In general, this is easier with the front wheels off the ground, but that is not absolutely necessary (if you have strong arms).
Once you have purged the system, put the cap back on the power steering reservoir, topping it off if the fluid level has dropped to the fill mark. Now, restart your car and observe the power steering pump. Does it seem to be operating quietly and smoothly? If you touch the pump 1-2 minutes after the engine has been running, is it hot to the touch? It will probably be warm, but _hot_ is an indication that something is overheating inside the pump. Is the power steering fluid very dark colored or does it smell burned? This is also a sign that the fluid should be changed ASAP and that some internal damage may have occurred. Burned fluid isn't necessarily an indication that your power steering pump is bad. However, if after changing your PS fluid the new fluid quickly becomes dark and starts smelling burned, then it's probably time to start saving money for a new or rebuilt power steering pump.

2008 escape power steering just went out. Need to know how/ what to get to fix it cheaper then ford dealership. They say I need a steering column

Power Steering Gear
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle, allowing the front suspension to hang
   freely.
   
2. Remove both front tire and wheel assemblies.
   CAUTION
   Failure to disconnect the intermediate shaft
   from the rack and pinion stub shaft can result in damage to the steering gear
   and/or intermediate shaft. This damage may cause a loss of steering control and
   possibly, personal injury.
   NOTE: The wheels of the vehicle must be straight ahead and the
   steering column in the LOCK position before disconnecting the steering column or
   intermediate shaft from the steering gear. Failure to do so will cause the SIR
   coil assembly to become uncentered, which will damage the coil.
   
   
   
   
3. If equipped, move the intermediate shaft cover upward, then unfasten the
   intermediate shaft-to-stub shaft pinch bolt.
   
4. Using a suitable puller, separate both tie rod ends from the steering
   knuckles.
   
5. Position a suitable drain pan under the power steering fluid lines. Remove
   the power steering fluid line retainer, then disconnect the outlet and inlet
   hoses from the steering gear. Allow the fluid to drain, then plug the lines to
   avoid contaminating the system.
   
   
   
   
   
   Fig. 1: Power steering fluid line routing - non-supercharged
   engine shown
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Fig. 2: Power steering gear inlet hose orientation -
   non-supercharged engines
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Fig. 3: Power steering hose routing and orientation -
   supercharged engine shown
   
   
   
   
   
6. Remove the steering gear assembly-to-chassis mounting bolts.
   
7. Support the body with suitable jackstands to allow for the lowering of the
   frame.
   
8. Loosen the front frame mounting bolts.
   
9. Remove the rear frame bolts, then lower the rear of the frame about 3 inches
   (76mm).
   WARNING
   Do not lower the frame too far, or you could
   damage the engine components nearest the cowl.
   
   
   
10. Remove the steering gear assembly by maneuvering it through the left wheel
    well opening.
    
    
    
    
    
    Fig. 4: Power steering gear mounting, with retainer tightening
    sequence and specifications
    
    
    To install:
    
    
11. Install the rack and pinion assembly into the vehicle, maneuvering it
    through the left wheel well opening.
    
12. Raise the rear of the frame, then install the frame bolts and tighten to 76
    ft. lbs. (103 Nm).
    
13. Install the rack and pinion assembly-to-chassis bolts. Tighten the rack
    mounting bolts to 50 ft. lbs. (68 Nm).
    
14. Remove the jackstands.
    
15. Apply Loctite® thread locking kit 1052624, or equivalent thread locking
    compound to the steering gear mounting bolts.
    
16. Install the steering gear mounting bolts, and washers, then tighten the
    retainers to 50 ft. lbs. (68 Nm) in the sequence shown in the accompanying
    figure.
    
17. Unplug and attach the power steering gear outlet and inlet hoses, then
    tighten the fittings to 20 ft. lbs. (27 Nm).
    
18. Install the power steering fluid line retainer.
    
19. Connect the tie rod ends to the steering knuckles. Tighten the nuts to 35
    ft. lbs. (47 Nm). Install a new cotter pin. Tighten the nut up to an additional
    1?6 turn,
    or to 52 ft. lbs. (70 Nm) to align the cotter pin slot. Do not loosen the nut to
    install the cotter pin.
    
20. Install the intermediate shaft-to-stub shaft pinch bolt and tighten to 35
    ft. lbs. (47 Nm). If equipped, move the intermediate shaft cover upward into
    position.
    
21. Install both front tire and wheel assemblies, then carefully lower the
    vehicle.
    
22. Refill the power steering pump reservoir, then bleed the power steering
    system and check for leaks.
    
23. Take the vehicle to a reputable repair shop and have the front end alignment
    checked and adjusted as necessary.

could be a stretched belt....bad power steering pump after she gets hot perhaps it starts to seize up causing the belt to spin over the pulley ?
Check the fluid level.

It sounds like the alternator belt or the alternator is going bad. The squealing sound was probably the alternator belt. the alternator belt might need to get tightened or replaced or you may need a new alternator. The alternator keeps the battery charged. When the alternator goes bad the battery can not be recharged. You also should keep the power steering fluid up to par or the power steering will go bad on you.

THESE TYPE CAN TRAP AIR DURING REFILLING, TRY REMOVE CAP ON PUMP, START ENGINE, SLOWLY TURN STEERING WHEEL, RIGHT - LEFT, CHECK FLUID FREQUENTLY WHILE DOING THIS, THIS SHOULD PURGE SYSTEM OF AIR .