my engine died for the first time today.. just thought I would throw it out as something to start to think about for possible repairs. My steering pump has seemed to be getting louder as I turn, not more difficult but just louder. Today I started up the truck to move it quickly and didnt let it warm up the usual couple minutes, just started it up and moved it. I instantly made a sharp turn up a hill, and started to turn the wheel in the opposite direction very fast as I put it into reversed, when I did this it died. It stated back up just fine though.

I have noticed when putting into gear, forward or reverse, the RPM drops really low.

Any ideas?

1993, Automatic, 4x4

Thanks

 

Is your power steering fluid full? If it's whining audible, usually that can mean the pump could be going out or you simply have low fluid thus air in the lines.

Far as dying, dunno on that.

How low are the rpm's dropping too?

 

turning the wheel quickly and putting it into gear can bog an engine down pretty bad. i agree check your flui level, if its real low, fill it, and turn the wheel slowly from one extreme to the other a few times to bleed the air out, check level again. when was your last tune up/fuel filter change?

 

How much fuel was in the tank? Possible fuel slosh, and the idle clean the idle air valve, and if it continues to idle low, you can adjust the idle a little.

 

check codes, replace fuel filter, and do this: https://www.f150forum.com/f33/how-se...-1991-a-31505/
it really isnt as complex as this guy makes it out to be. i do it with no tools at all.

 

the stearing fluid is full, but here is the deal, my fluid was red and looked like ATF almost. I had a guy help me weld a crack in my frame and he nicked the power steering fluid line (low pressure). So we patched the line and I turned the wheel back and forth about 20 times to get the air out of the lines. The fluid was then low so we went to buy a bottle of "power steering fluid", and he dumped it in and it was completely clear, I mentioned the old fluid is red and he said "its all the same" could this be the problem? it worked great at the time and the pump was silent when turning but now its getting loud again.. Maybe its NOT all the same?

So I also did the seafoam today, boy is it getting expensive!! I remember when it was a couple bucks a bottle, I paid $9.99 and that was the SALE price!! Normal 12.99
My final results of the mix: started to pour in the booster line and I thought that seems like enough and ran to shut it off but just didnt feel right, I looked in the bottle and it was only about 1/5 so I pour in more ot equal about 1/3 bottle. Then I shut if off. I poured what felt to be another third in the oil, which turned out to probably be 1/4 or less because I ended out pouring ALOT in the tank haha! I waited almost a half hour and I got a few huge puffs and drove around the block. Nothing like I see in videos but it did smoke so thats a plus haha!!

Time to look at cleaning throttle body and associated sensors.

 

sometimes manufactures use ATF for powersteering fluid. you should check for any codes too. just kinda routine checks every now and then since with these trucks even if they have an error the check engine like doesnt always come on

 

oh yeah

missed doing that haha