my 1997 Ford Taurus Wagon has an intermittent problem that stumped my mechanic.
Sometimes the sound on the radio stops and is followed by a loss of power steering. I can start the car again and it works fine but will happen again.
Well, those would be two completely different systems (one purely electrical and the other purely mechanical). The only thing I can think of in common is that they’re being driven off the same belt (alternator and power steering pump) and that belt is seriously slipping – sometimes. Does the engine keep running when this happens? You mentioned having to restart. The PS would be lost if the engine quit, but the radio should keep going. Has the mechanic verified that the belt is in good condition and properly tensioned, that any tensioners are working properly, and both the alternator and PS pump are in good shape?