audioclock

I have a 2011 F150 with 250k kms on it. When the truck is below freezing and parked outside, the steering wheel will not budge for 10-30 minutes of idling, then it unlocks and operates 100% normally. If it’s moisture getting in the rack and freezing up, wouldn’t it operate really poorly still once it somewhat thaws? I suspect it could be electrical for that reason but I really don't know.

When it is not working, it’s not that the steering feels frozen or stiff, it feels like it’s totally locked, as if the vehicle is shut off.

maco

Have heard of this before & my thoughts are it is "NOT the steering rack"....It very likely is the u-joints seizing up in the lower steering column shaft... Get some quality lube as in fluid film (not wd-40 & spray the two joints in the shaff...
.. The top joint is almost directly under the vacuum brake reservoir.. The bottom one is located @ the bottom of that shaft & is right beside the frontend of the exhaust manifold....The heat from the engine also helps to dry out this joint !!!... This lower joint is best sprayed from the bottom up (ask me how I know) It can be both joints seizing but the lower one is probably the real culprit here !!
After spraying rotate your steering wheel end to end ...spray again then in a parking lot drive & turn end to end again 3-4 times & completing each turn... You probqably now will notice a big difference. Take note when turning as you get to the straight ahead position & keep on turning you might feel it bind & bump over the centre....This is not a fix but it will get you down the road for a few more days.... E-bay & Amazon both sell (cheaper) new shafts.. around $50. + & depends on your year ?? Install is fairly simple !!
When you finally fix this plz post back results so others may learn !! & your post will be completed !!

audioclock

I have sprayed some of that stuff a bit with quality lube but it’s still happening. I’ll try spraying more. It isn’t stiff or binding throughout the whole turning tho. It just “locks” up and wants to pull over, but once it’s free, it turns extremely freely with zero binding. I can’t see it being the rack because of how smoothly and well it works when it does work. As soon as it breaks free, it works perfectly.

maco

Locks up is exactly the way I would describe it & is usually right around when the trk is very straight !!.... When it does lock up are you very near straight ahead ?? When my 1st one went went I crapped a ton thinking it was the electric steering (epas system) But it was not it was the shaft joints ... After I got them freed up by multiple lubing (-4 times in 1st hour) I was able to carry on... I do 500 to 800 km a day & was able to drive safely ...But I did have to relube every 3-4 days till I got home & ordered & received the part for installation.. The key is a quality lube & bathe the joints & of course end to end turning THIGHT turns till loose !!!!
Note: you can only spray that joint ...It is not like you can spray into it directly (internally) I think I might of had it cranked slightly !@ least when I sprayed it multiple times ??

audioclock

it is with the wheel straight where it locks up.

When it’s locked up right after starting it tho, no matter how much force I pull on the steering wheel with it absolutely won’t budge.

Justanotherjo

stupid thought, but could it be the steering column lock mechanism? Since it happens when the wheel is straight, maybe it isn't unlocking. Even if the electric assist failed, you should still be able to turn the steering wheel, although it will take alot of muscle to doit.

audioclock

that’s kinda what I was thinking yesterday. Is there a way to disable or drill out the steering lock? Would be nice to at least have manual steering when this thing acts up instead of just being stranded. I also noticed yesterday in the garage while trying to work on it, with the truck off my steering wheel wasn’t even locked.

if the steering rack is what’s failing, would I be left with manual steering or is there some way that rack can fail and totally lock up my steering? I just can’t see it being the rack with the way it’s failing.

could it be clockspring?

maco

Think of it this way....when you park @ end of day you prob. leave the steering somewhat very straight.... because of lack of use (0vernight ) the dry rusty joint again seizes up more & tends to lock !! Next morning you have to get it moving each way past that centre point of it being parked...Then if lucky the spray lube gets into the joint & tends to free up ?? As I said spray from the bottom up with it cranked slightly & just bathe that lower joint...as many times as it takes to free up////

audioclock

man im not sure why you’re so adamant on these steering issues but i really don’t believe it to be the case here.

no, I haven’t been parking with the wheel straight cause im trying to figure out this issue. So I park with it turned all the way to the right this time, left this time, etc.

when it is locked up, I can grab the steering shaft and rock it back and forth slightly. It isn’t seized. And that wouldn’t make sense for it to just continuously seize up while driving. I constantly need to jerk the steering wheel back and forth as it locks up in both directions.

maco

That's fine !! I didn't want to see you chasing your problem in the wrong direction.... I'm here you are there with a problem .. Good Luck !! You could rule out the joint by disconnecting it & seeing if it;s loose / seized etc. Just a thought??