The power steering pump on your Lincoln Continental produces the necessary pressure for the steering system. Without it, you would have a hard time steering the vehicle down the road. However, that is exactly what happens when the pump internal gears or valves wear out and leak pressure. In this case, replacing the steering pump is necessary, and you can do it fairly easily.
Disconnect the black, negative battery cable from the car's battery using a wrench.
Turn the idler belt tensioner using a breaker bar with a 1/2-inch drive. Insert the drive into the square hole on the tab located behind the belt tensioner and turn it clockwise. Slide the belt off the power steering pulley. On some models, you may need a breaker bar with a 3/8-inch drive. See the Tip section at the bottom for more information. Go to the next section.
Loosen the adjusting and pivot bolts from the alternator, if you have a Lincoln Continental with a 5.0L engine. Use a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.
Push the alternator towards the engine and slide the drive belt off the power steering pump.
Place a drain pan underneath the engine in the direction of the power steering pump hoses.
Detach the return hose form the steering pump by unscrewing the clamp at the pump using a ratchet and socket. Let the fluid drip onto the drain pan.
Detach the pressure hose from the steering pump by turning the retaining nut using a tube wrench. Let the fluid drip onto the drain pan if necessary.
Unscrew the mounting bolts from the power steering pump using a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.
Remove the power steering pump from the engine.
Set the new power steering pump in place.
Start the pump mounting bolts by hand to avoid damage to the threads. Use the ratchet extension if necessary.
Tighten the steering pump mounting bolts.
Connect the pressure hose to the power steering fitting by starting the retaining nut by hand to avoid damage to the threads. Then tighten the nut using the tube wrench.
Attach the return hose to the steering pump and tighten the clamp using a ratchet and socket.
Fill the power steering pump reservoir with power steering fluid and make sure the level is between the Low and Full marks.
Turn the idler belt tensioner clockwise using a 1/2- or 3/8-inch drive breaker bar, depending on your particular model. Then slide the drive belt over the steering pump pulley. Then go to the next section.
Place the drive belt over the power steering pump pulley, if you had to move the alternator to release the belt.
Pull the alternator away from the engine using a pry bar to give the drive belt the required tension and tighten the alternator-adjusting bolt. Then tighten the alternator pivot bolt. Use a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.
Connect the black, negative battery cable to the car's battery using a wrench.
Start the engine.
Turn the steering wheel four times left and right completely.
Check the power steering fluid and add if necessary.
Turn the steering wheel again, check the power steering fluid and add more if necessary. Repeat the steps 2 and 3 until the level remains between the Low and Full marks.
Turn off the engine.
