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Home >> Ford >> 2000 >> Contour SE, 2.5 L, Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 1826 (Steering System - General Information - F-150 & Mark LT) >> Diagnostic Tests >> Steering System >> Inspection and Verification >> Steering System Noise Definitions >> Hiss

Steering System Noise Definitions: Hiss

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 Lincoln Mark LT and 2007 Ford Pickup. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Hiss or valve hiss is a high-frequency sound coming from the steering gear when the system is loaded. It is a rushing or "swish" noise that does not change frequency with rpm. Hiss is the general noise generated by flow of hydraulic fluid though restrictions in the steering system and typically worsens with increasing temperatures. Restrictions include the rotary steering valve, power steering tubes, connectors, tuning orifices, etc. Hiss can be air-borne and structure-borne, but the structure-borne path through the steering intermediate shaft is usually dominant.