Power steering , worse when running

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harcos

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I have a 1996 4.3 Mercruiser , I have been reading a few threads with similar but not exact problems to mine. My steering is fairly stiff but becomes worse with the engine running. The pump is new and I have flushed fluid through the lines until all the old fluid was gone and only clean fluid flows. I have looked to see if the wrench flats on the control valve are up and down and they pretty much are. I am leaning toward the actuator as the problem is worse with the engine running , if it was a cable you would think the pump assist would make it a bit easier not harder. there was a guy had a similar problem in the forum but there was no solution posted so I don't know which, if any suggestion helped.
 
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Chris1956

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If the steering gets harder with speed, your P/S is not working properly. I have seen that with low or no fluid.
 
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harcos

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Chris1956 said:
If the steering gets harder with speed, your P/S is not working properly. I have seen that with low or no fluid.
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Fluid is fine, fresh and full. Pump is new and tested. Speed has no affect. The difference is steering gets harder when the engine is running and the pump is turning than when the engine is shut off. It's obvious the P/S isn't working properly but I was wondering if anyone had this particular issue and could help me circumvent a pile of testing.
 
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Chris1956

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Is the steering harder with the engine running and in neutral, than off? That would suggest the steering ram is hooked up wrong or broken.
 
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Lou C

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If the pump is good you may need to replace the actuator. I had to change mine last year. Made a big difference it steers with one finger now.
 
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harcos

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Lou C said:
If the pump is good you may need to replace the actuator. I had to change mine last year. Made a big difference it steers with one finger now.
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For anyone who reads this and wonders what the issue was, it was the steering cable. It was too stiff and also too long for the boat and when I did some work on it I changed where it was in the boat and this affected the way it was actuating the power steering , it was almost like it was working backwards. Any way a new steering cable (2 ft shorter) and everything is good now.
 
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