Power steering issue

colegurl · Post by **colegurl** » February 11th, 2007, 2:53 am

Let me just state off the top, I'm not the brightest when it comes to car.

I recently bought a 1005 mx-3 precidia GS. Brought the car in today and got the fluids flush and topped up. I had them do my power steering fluid.

Well, things got quite interesting afterwards. I didnt have any problems with the steering at first, probably did about 2 hours worth of driving before I noticed any issues. The wheel got real stiff when I tried to turn. It was actually quite difficult for me to complete my turn. I pulled over, jiggled the wheel a bit and it seemed to return back to normal. It now feels a bit stiffer occasionally but nothing like it was during that turn.

Am I looking at a serious problem here? I plan on contacting the place i brought my car for the fluids tomorrow and make them look at it cause everything was perfectly fine before they flushed the system.

Typhoonk · Post by **Typhoonk** » February 11th, 2007, 1:39 pm

could be just air in the system. Just have to bleed it out properly and you should be ok. But ya bring it back where it was done (soon) and get them to do it - then if it did cause any damage, you can get them to fix it

colegurl · Post by **colegurl** » March 6th, 2007, 11:25 am

it was air in the lines. but unforunately this morning my steering went again and when i checked my levels, my power steering fluid was on empty.

so now i get to get all dirty and try to see if there is a leak.

colegurl · Post by **colegurl** » March 9th, 2007, 4:47 pm

oh yeah.. there was a leak.

brought it into my shop and apparently i need a new steering rack and a pump... this is one expensive car

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » March 9th, 2007, 6:09 pm

Its only expensive if you pay other people to work on it.. and for that matter.. all cars are expensive from that perspective. Parts are actually reasonable and through this site and other sites fairly obtainable.. but if you pay a shop.. they will jack the price up to maximum for parts & labor.. why? Cause they can...

Tunes67

colegurl · Post by **colegurl** » March 9th, 2007, 6:27 pm

I'm aware of that. Unfortunately I opted to take photography in highschool instead of mechanics.

I've got a manual and I'm planning on taking some courses soon to become more car knowledgable. This steering thing just happened to catch me before I could do that. And its undriveable with the bad steering rack...

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » March 9th, 2007, 6:30 pm

Just a heads up is all.. next time you need a part.. try posting it in the [WTB] section.. you might find it a lot cheaper than buying one at a shop. You'd still have to have someone install it most likely (a steering rack is not a easy fix) but you could still save a couple hundred bux.

Tunes67

Nd4SpdSe · Post by **Nd4SpdSe** » March 10th, 2007, 12:32 am

well, use cars will need some TLC, no matter that you get. But as for your problem, the rack would be expensive, the the pump isn't bad. I'm surprised it would be the the rack, even the rack and the pump.

Personally i'd suspect just the pump. I've never really heard of anyone needing to replace the rack around here (except for those who want to get rid of power steering, but that's for racing/performance reasons). We have a '90 626, and seriously, we replaced the PS pump 3 times within a year, however, the 2 replacement we paid C$20 (each) at the wreckers, You never know what you get at the wreckers, but for $40, you can't complain.

We we're easilly able to do the work in the driveway, and since it's a 4cyl, there's a fair amout of room in the engine bay to work, the same would be if you had a 4cyl Mx-3, but the GS V6 is more crammed, but I've never done it on the Mx-3, it's still the original and like i said, I'm not aware off hand that anyone i know replaced their rack from failure. I hope it's a trustworthy shop, cause i'd suspect they're trying to make a few bucks from you. Although you can't completely rule out that the rack requires replacing, my mental track record says historically it shouldnt be.

And be careful on driving with the rack on no fluid, that can damage the rack since the fluid librucates teh system. To be honest, I drove the 626 like that for a few weeks at a time between pumps and the rack is still fully functional, and I think it'll be a year come spring since we replaced it.

colegurl · Post by **colegurl** » March 10th, 2007, 2:23 am

my family has been going to the same shop for bout 15 years now. they're fairly reliable, we've never had a problem.

i'll get the full story when i get my car back (i'm stuck driving a cavalier for the weekend) but apparently the fluid must have been low/burnt in the car for awhile cause it caused damaged to the rack...

aside from that... I LOVE THIS CAR. its my first car in my name and i dont think i could have found a car more suited to me

neutral · Post by **neutral** » March 10th, 2007, 4:35 am

My 95 RS rack is removable with engine in place. (just baaarely) Dunno about the GS but that V6 may block straightforward access for rack replacement. If you need a rack, be prepared for sticker-shock at the cost for a mech to do it. Parts cost for just the rack (a remanufactured one) will run anywhere from $200 - 400 USD depending on source. Shops typically won't install a less expensive used one from a wreckers yard 'cause it would void any warranty on the work. Sounds like you have a trusted family mech so ask plenty of questions and have em show you exactly what they are talking about and you'll see what is involved. Try to get em to point things out with the car on the lift. Many shops have a policy of no customers in the workbay but if you ask, they'll often make an exception in your circumstances. g/l and post back whatcha find out.

Nd4SpdSe · Post by **Nd4SpdSe** » March 10th, 2007, 11:52 pm

If your mechanic has been serving you got for 15yrs, than he is probably reliable and trustworthy. What's you may want to consider doing is to just ge the pump replaced. I dont believe there's any overlapping labor on replacing the PS pump and the PS rack, so worse case it'll cost you the same in the end, but replacing the pump first would be the cheapest and most likely solution.