2011 Fusion power steering assist fault and service advancetrac at same time. restarted w/ no reset. drove 50mi w/ no steering wtf

Had to drive 50 miles after power steering assist fault and service advancetrac appeared. restarted to rest several times to no avail. was also told this was not covered under recall before. wtf do i just trade in and be good riddens

My car has 37500 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. The issue may not be incredibly complex or major. With newer vehicles being equipped with more complex diagnostic systems, it is not uncommon for one issue being related to two separate warning lights. The first step is to have the vehicle scanned for diagnostic codes. This can be done at most automotive parts stores or by a technician. Once you have that information you can make repairs or continue testing. Your vehicle in particular has a large number of sensors, one of which may need to be replaced. The repairs needed may be more complicated but there is no way to know until the codes have been scanned. For more help with diagnostics and repairs, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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Ford has announced that 90644 vehicles have been affected by a Power Steering recall. If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford Fusion Steering Rack Recall

Additionally, service technicians should be aware that a recall has been issued for 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine because their electronic power steering assist systems may shut down due to a steering motor sensor fault.

“Warning: When an electronic error is detected, the message POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT will be displayed in the message center. If this happens, stop the vehicle in a safe place, and turn off the engine. After at least 10 seconds, reset the system by restarting the engine.
This warning indicates that there is a problem with the power steering system. It could be something as simple as low fluid levels or a more serious issue such as a power steering pump failure.
Ford announced today that it will recall 422,814 model year 2011 to 2013 Fusion, Flex and Lincoln MKS and MKT, model year 2011 to 2012 Lincoln MKZ and 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles for a possible electrical issue that can lead to steering difficulties.
Vehicles that are designed with a power steering pump should only be used when the power steering is operational. When the power steering stops working, you should refrain from operating the vehicle until the pump is replaced.
M-type fuse.
The Problem: A potential electrical issue in the steering gear may result in the loss of electric power steering assist while driving. This could cause the steering system to default to manual mode, making the vehicle more difficult to steer, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The average cost for a Ford Fusion Power Steering Pump Replacement is between $292 and $528. Labor costs are estimated between $123 and $155 while parts are priced between $169 and $373.
Ford has issued a recall for 1.1 million vehicles due to a defect which can cause the vehicles to suddenly lose power steering. According to the auto maker, faulty sensors and defective electrical connections within the steering column could result in the loss of electric power steering assist while driving.
Power steering pumps will whine or grind when turning if they are failing. You may also notice tight steering response or slow response when you turn the wheel. If you notice these things in combination, that is a good indication that your power steering pump is about to fail.
The power steering on a 2011 Ford Fusion 4 cylinder does not have power steering fluid/reservoir, it has fuses. You will need a schematic to troubleshoot which fuse(s) have blown.
This issue with the EPS light can also be caused if you have recently had to jump-start your car, or you`ve disconnected the battery. Occasionally, the problem can be fixed by simply turning your vehicle off and on again.
How much should I expect to pay? While the price of this repair can vary, expect to pay between $500 and $800 to get your power steering pump replaced. Depending on your car, the cost could exceed that price, or fall below it.
If you lose your power steering be prepared to hang on to the wheel with all of your strength to turn it. Stop as soon as possible. If the power steering has failed because the engine has cut out you may need extra pressure on the brakes to stop the car.
The bottom line: Do not attempt to drive a car without power steering. If your power steering fails while driving, pull over to the side of the road and have your car towed to a nearby mechanic.
When a problem is detected in with ESP, the power steering warning light comes on. One common problem with your vehicle is a faulty power steering control module (PSCM). The PSCM is integrated into the rack and pinion assembly. There were recalls issued on some Ford vehicles for faulty PSCMs.
The ECU, described here, is electric power steering, which is intended to control the motor in response to the input such as sensor signal to assist the driver`s steering effort.
2011 Ford Flex Recall

The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault. Action Need To Fix It: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC).

Contamination most frequently occurs when the tubes and hoses in your steering system deteriorate and fall apart. Likewise, moisture can get into the fluid and increase friction. Ultimately, this leads to a failed pump and steering which becomes extremely stiff, especially when your car isn`t in motion.
One of the most common problems power steering systems have is leaks. The high pressure of the system combined with the soft hoses carrying the fluid makes it relatively susceptible to leaks. A low fluid level can cause a whining power steering pump and even a loss of fluid pressure and a loss of steering assistance.
It takes two to three hours for a competent mechanic to switch over a power steering pump. Power steering pump replacement costs vary across the country according to each garage and dealership.
This is a serious battery problem if the battery is now swollen and has no power. There has been an obviously internal fault. This will cause the vehicle to power down and the EPS light to come on as well. The EPS light is the warning indicator for the electric power steering.
If your vehicle is only hard to steer when you first turn it on, then you likely have a damaged steering rack. Often this problem will go away when the car warms up, and the rack becomes hot and well lubricated.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

2011 Fusion power steering assist fault and service advancetrac at same time. restarted w/ no reset. drove 50mi w/ no steering wtf
ANSWER : Hello. The issue may not be incredibly complex or major. With newer vehicles being equipped with more complex diagnostic systems, it is not uncommon for one issue being related to two separate warning lights. The first step is to have the vehicle scanned for diagnostic codes. This can be done at most automotive parts stores or by a technician. Once you have that information you can make repairs or continue testing. Your vehicle in particular has a large number of sensors, one of which may need to be replaced. The repairs needed may be more complicated but there is no way to know until the codes have been scanned. For more help with diagnostics and repairs, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

can i temporally get power steering back from a power steering assist fault in a 2011 ford fusion. want to trade in and not fix
ANSWER : Hi there. The Power Steering system on your Ford Fusion includes both the normal hydraulic system used for many years now to make steering your car easier, as well as a Power Steering Assist system that augments the regular power steering. If a problem develops with the Power Steering Assist system, it will be deactivated. You’ll see a warning in the message center that reads “Power steering assist fault.” In order to resolve this issue, a warning light inspection would have to be completed to clear the code. However, if an actual fault exists in the system, it would re-trigger the warning light. Since this is a common problem with Fusions, repairing or not repairing the warning light would not impact the trade in value in most cases.

I had a warning message in my 2013 Ford Fusion that the power steering assist failed. I have power steering capability now. Is it safe to drive?
ANSWER : Some 2013 Ford Fusion models are part of a safety recall involving loss of steering assist. Contact your dealer with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or check your VIN number on safercar.gov to verify if this recall applies to your vehicle. Loss of steering assist can be dangerous if you are caught off guard. It would be best to not drive the vehicle. Contact your dealer to have it towed to their location.

Power steering fluid groaning noise. Power steering leak?
ANSWER : Hello. A groaning noise is an indication of low power steering fluid. If you had your power steering fluid serviced about 5 months ago and it is making a groaning noise again most likely means your power steering pump has gone bad or your power steering leak has going from minor to moderate. I can tell you that Honda Accords are one of the most common vehicles for a power steering pump leak to occur on and require a pump replacement. If not a leaking pump it could be power steering hose leaking fluid. I suggest that you have a power steering fluid leak inspection done otherwise you will have to keep filling up your power steering reservoir until it is fixed.

https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/power-steering-fluid-is-leaking-inspection

Power steering goes out while driving or right after car is started with "power steering service ESC" showing up on the panel
ANSWER : There was a safety recall for some 2004 through 2009 Malibu models for electric power steering issues. The problem can be the electric motor or the steering column itself. You should go to safercar.gov and run the VIN number for your vehicle. This will tell you if there are any open recalls on your vehicle. Also, check with your local Chevy dealer service department. They also can run your VIN number to see if the recall is still open. The recall is a lifetime replacement – one time only – of whichever part is causing the problem. Lifetime meaning regardless of mileage, if the recall campaign covers your vehicle and it was never done, it will be repaired free of charge regardless of age or mileage of the vehicle. If your vehicle is not part of the recall, or the parts have already been replaced once under the recall, then you will need to have a certified technician check both the electric pump and the steering column to find out which is the cause.

power steering fluid is leaking
ANSWER : With a power steering fluid leak that big, you certainly should have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible to find the exact cause. Any of the components you listed can be the source of the leak. The power steering pump as well as the rack & pinion steering unit rely on the fluid for lubrication as well as cooling. The whining you hear is from the pump when the fluid runs low or empty. Your issue can be caused by something as simple as a fluid hose right now, but continued ’running dry" of the power steering fluid, can result in damage to both the pump and the rack & pinion unit. If that happens, you can take what may be a repair of a few hundred dollars and turn it into a repair of a couple of thousand dollars.

Steering wheel shakes, light came on power steering assist failure 2010 Ford Escape
ANSWER : Hi there – this behavior, sometimes called "phantom steering shake" is often due to a steering torque sensor in the steering column. This device sense how much effort is being put into the steering wheel to make a turn. This determines how much "power assist" the electronic steering adds to your own effort to turn the steering wheel. If you are getting the "shake" while idling and still, this can be the beginnings of failure of this sensor. I would first go back to Ford to discuss the Recall (#14V284000), because this appears to be precisely the problem you are having. Escalate to Ford Customer Service. If this is unsuccessful, I recommend a steering wheel shakes inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, confirm this diagnosis, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

Power steering fault light comes on after advancetrac light goes off
ANSWER : Hi There,
As you may know your vehicle is equipped with electronic power steering which is very different from the traditional hydraulic power steering systems we have known for decades. As you can imagine, electronic power steering is an advancement in vehicle technology and serves to increase fuel economy. An EPS system provides up to a 2% increase in fuel economy over the conventional system. Another benefit of having an electric steering system is that it eliminates the use of hoses and fluid, therefore eliminating power steering leaks as well as a reduction in weight. To provide steering assistance, an electric motor mounted to the side of the rack housing drives a ball-screw mechanism via a toothed rubber belt. The screw engages a spiral cut in the outside of the steering rack. A torque sensor attached to the pinion shaft signals a control computer when to provide assistance. There are a number of things that can fail with the electronics involved in this kind of a system. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your power steering system.