Hi Scotty, Thanks for everything you do! I just bought a 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid with 165k miles. I paid $2,500. I think I got a good deal. It’s a great car except for one thing. The power steering doesn’t work. I get a great arm workout driving it around! Lol. The dashboard system scan says “power steering ok”. The seller told me that the power steering motor is electric in this car. Is that true? I also read that there is a component inside the steering column that can go out. Question is where do I go to begin to figure out what’s causing the power steering failure? I would appreciate any insight you can provide as I would like to fix this problem. Thank you! Tim
Probably the power steering control module -$1000 and/or the power steering rack - more $. See below.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/FORD/ESCAPE%252520HYBRID/4%252520DR/FWD%25252FAWD
Start off by getting the codes read from the PSCM (Power Steering Control Module).
You'll probably have at least one and you'll probably have to test the circuit to figure out the problem.
On the wiring diagram, I circled the 4 pin numbers which you'll be testing (on wiring connector C1463B) and put a rectangle around the connector on the Power Steering Motor connector.
The C1463B connector only has those 4 wires and looks like this on the PSCM:
When you disconnect it, it looks like this and these are the Pin numbers which correspond to the wiring diagram (again, they're circled in the diagram).
Pin 1 is the Light Green/Violet stripe wire which provides battery voltage to the PSCM.
Pin 2 is a Black wire which goes to the Power Steering Motor.
Pin 3 is a Black wire which provides Ground to the PSCM.
Pin 4 is the White wire which goes to the Power Steering Motor.
Now that you now what the circuit looks like and what wires are what, it's time to test the wiring which provide Power and Ground to the PSCM, and test the harness between the PSCM and the Power Steering Motor, and the Power Steering Motor.
This is easy. All you need is a cheap multimeter (10 bucks). You don't need to know anything about electricity or auto mechanics. The important thing is to be methodical. Do one test at a time. If you don't get the reading on the multimeter that you're supposed to get, STOP. You likely found the problem. Don't just ignore it and proceed to the next step.
I'm going to break this up using horizontal lines to create a section for each test hoping it will make this less intimidating.
This entire procedure shouldn't take more than 15 minutes.
So here's the drill:
1) Establish what your Battery Voltage is.
Turn the dial on your multimeter to DC Volts (20 volt range) and touch the Black multimeter probe to the Negative post on the battery and the Red multimeter probe to the Positive post on the battery. That voltage reading is your Battery Voltage. Make a mental note of it.
2) Now check the Power and Ground going to the PSCM.
Touch the Black probe of the multimeter to Pin 3 of the connector and the Red probe of the multimeter to Pin 1. You should see very close to Battery Voltage. (within 2/10th's of a volt).
If you have close to Battery Voltage then you know that the PSCM is getting the Power and the Ground it needs to operate. (if you don't see it, STOP and using the wiring diagram figure out which is missing, Power or Ground, and where you're losing it.) ((come back and tell us, we'll help if you need it)).
(Let's assume you have battery voltage there to move ahead in the testing).
3) Now you'll test for a "Short to Power" within the harness on the 2 wires going from the PSCM to the Power Steering Motor.
Connect the Black probe of your multimeter to the Battery Negative post.
Touch the Red probe of the multimeter to Pin 2. Then touch the Red probe of the multimeter to Pin 4.
In both cases you should read ZERO Volts. There can't be any voltage at all. If there is, STOP. You have a short to power in the harness. (if you need help figuring out why that's happening, come back and tell us and we'll help you figure it out).
(Let's assume you have NO voltage there to move ahead in the testing).
4) Now you'll test for resistance going through those same 2 wires AND inside the Power Steering Motor.
(you're testing for shorts to ground in the wiring or a "burned out" Power Steering Motor).
Turn the dial on your multimeter to Ohms, (200 ohms range).
Touch one probe of the multimeter to Pin 2 and the other probe to Pin 4.
There shouldn't be much resistance there. About 2 ohms or less. (give the meter time to settle down with a stable reading)
(if you need help figuring out why there's more than 2 ohms, come back and tell us and we'll help you figure it out).
So that's the drill. If you take it one step at a time, you can do this.
If all these tests Pass, my bet would be on a faulty PSCM.
But you don't have to buy a new one. Explore options like reputable repair guys on ebay and used PSCMs with a guarantee.
@jack62 Hey, i am getting more than 2 ohms when doing the 2 and 4 wire, how do i fix that, its 180 ohms
It’s most likely electric power steering since it is a hybrid. You can easily check under the hood to see if you have a power steering fluid reservoir and pump. I’d throes are there, is traditional. If not, probably electric.
