A few mainentance questions for 4 cylinder Ranger

[sauterd]

Hi,
I have a 2000 Ranger, 4 cylinder automatic, with just over 80,000 miles on it. My mechanic suggested that I have the power steering box flushed and refilled because it is noisy. In the past, other places have told me that all Ford ps boxes are noisy. He wants $80 to do it. Any suggestions?
Also, he suggested changing plugs and wires (they are the original ones), but that it would be $280 to do. I am not that mechanically-inclined, but is this perhaps something I can do? I was also thinking that the maintenance guide did not suggest changing these until closer to 100K miles, but I could be mistaken
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Dale

 

[KELLY88]

A lot of Ford power steering boxes are noisy. Just the way it is. A fluid change probably won't fix anything. It can't hurt but doesn't sound incredibly necessary. As for the plugs and wires, $280 is a ridiculous price for it. You can do it yourself with a few tools and a lot of time. It's not easy but doing the work yourself is always more satisfying than taking it to a shop.

 

[exbass94]

For the power steering, I would just use a siphon pump or a turkey baster and get whatever fluid I can out of the resevior and top it up with fresh fluid. Do that once every few days/weeks and eventually you'll have nothing but fresh fluid. The power steering uses Mercon automatic transmission fluid. Don't use generic "power steering fluid" in it. $280 sounds like a lot for spark plugs. I would either shop around for a better price, or do it myself.

Another thing I would recommend doing is having the transmission fluid changed, if hasn't been done already. Maintenance is the key to making them last. I recommend changing the fluid at least every 30k miles. Good luck!

 

[Mark_88]

$280 for plugs and wires?????

I doubt the parts would cost you more than $100 even for top of the line plugs and wires...I'd go with the suggestion to DIY and save a bundle...changing plugs and wires is easy enough as long as you do one at a time...

As for the noisy PS...is a loud squealing noise like in your belt needs lubrication? That's easy enough to fix yourself too...get some of that belt lube...if it's the box itself...don't know...never heard one that makes enough noise that doesn't need replacing...as in loud clunking noises...and that's not normal...

 

[merlinicorpus]

Find another mechanic. Ford PS pumps are all noisy thanks to their worm gear design, changing the fluid does nothing. Contamination is the only reason you should ever have to flush the PS system. $280 for new plugs and wires is ludicrous. I'd expect a good shop to put high grade ones on for $150... 200 tops.