What did you do to your 2019 and up Ranger today?

[sgtsandman]

If anyone runs into an issue with the electric steering seizing up when it is cold and you don't get any warnings or codes, there is a very good chance you are dealing with water intrusion into the rack.

The temporary fix is to warm up the truck ahead of time so the engine can melt the ice. The permenent fix is replacing the rack. There is no replacement parts availability for rebuilding.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If anyone runs into an issue with the electric steering seizing up when it is cold and you don't get any warnings or codes, there is a very good chance you are dealing with water intrusion into the rack.

The temporary fix is to warm up the truck ahead of time so the engine can melt the ice. The permenent fix is replacing the rack. There is no replacement parts availability for rebuilding.

Is there any TSBs or anything on this?

That is kind of a bad thing to have lock up.

 

[sgtsandman]

Is there any TSBs or anything on this?

That is kind of a bad thing to have lock up.

Nope. The Escape, Focus, and F150 are all known to have this issue as well from my research. The only thing I've heard from Ford is about a recall on my block heater.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Nope. The Escape, Focus, and F150 are all known to have this issue as well from my research. The only thing I've heard from Ford is about a recall on my block heater.

Well there it is.

You said the engine heat helps thaw out the rack. So maybe plugging in your truck with a functioning engine heater would heat the engine up and keep the rack thawed out?

 

[sgtsandman]

Well there it is.

You said the engine heat helps thaw out the rack. So maybe plugging in your truck with a functioning engine heater would heat the engine up and keep the rack thawed out?

I've had the rack freeze up even with that plugged in. I don't think it heats the engine up enough to make much of a difference in that regard. Plus, even if it did, it doesn't help me at work or other places. So, for now, remote start during freezing or less temps is the temporary fix. It's out of warranty. So, the fix is totally going to be on my dime unless Ford does a recall. For a steering rack that costs $1,110 - 1,700 after the core return, I don't see them voluntarily doing that.

Oh, I forgot about the Edge. There were posts about them having some problems too. Not a ton of posts or videos on the subject but there are some for all the models I mentioned that have electric steering racks.

 

[JohnnyO]

Well there it is.

You said the engine heat helps thaw out the rack. So maybe plugging in your truck with a functioning engine heater would heat the engine up and keep the rack thawed out?

My wife used to have a Taurus wagon that had a block heater. In PA you don't need it a lot but I'd plug it in if it was going to be colder than 20*. It wasn't like you got instant heat but it would start easier and you got warm air out of the heater much faster.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]