loss of the powersteering

yesterday i noticed a complete loss of power steering when i came to a stop, while in gear and idling. once i give it the slightest bit of gas its fine. i checked the fluid, and its up to level. i have no ...new...leaks. no powers steering leaks anyways. i turned the truck off and didnt look any further at it. then went home and now the prob is gone. i know that i should be glad its not still going it, but i want to know why so that i may prevent it.
when i lost the steereng i lost it bad. i mean it seems easier to turn the wheel with out the engine running than it was yesterday.:huh:

How many miles? sounds like a pump

I'm having power steering woes as well - get ready to spend some bank unless you're willing to rebuild on your own.

it sounds as though the pressure releif valve in the output side of the pump was stopped up. I would drain and flush the system and remove the valve and clean it. I have not done it on the Jeep, but as far as I am aware, it will unscrew from the pressure hose port and will look like a metal cylinder (like a valve lifter) with a few holes in it and a spring backing it up inside.

--Shorty

Thanks Shorty, i was thinking a clog but i didnt think there was any holes that small in a power steering system. or how it would be fine now. i thought maybe burned up fluid, but either way the assumed remedy would be a flush. it didnt have the sound of a pump going bad, you know that wwaaaaawaaaaaawwaaaaa sound that every Ford sounds like!!! and the answer to the milage question, 214,893. Runs like a champ, it just could use a timing set and push rods. sounds a little loose/streched on the chain part.