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Blain-Talon93
New User
Oct 4, 2006, 9:47 AM
Post #1 of 8
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Power Steering Loss!!
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I take very good care of my car - fix it when it has a problem - constant upkeep of oil changes, fluid checks and filters ie/ tune-ups.
Yesterday morning the scariest thing in the world happened to me. I was pulling into a store and my front-right tire hit the incline kinda hard and I lost my power steering. Thinking it a fluke because I kinda stalled a bit, the mechanic I see checked my front-end and said everything was fine and sent me on my way.
This morning, same thing happened, same place. Then again after I got to work, I turned left though, I didn't hit any bumps, nothing, just pulled out into traffic and there was a horrible noise form under my hood that sounded like a starter not getting the gumption to start a car - even though I WAS in fact started - and I lost my power steering again - almost headed into a ditch. Note: the sound wasn't the power steering whinning and moaning I know what that sounds like. It sounded like a bad starter!
For some time now I have had a chirping sound in my vent when I have my air/heat on. This chirping intensifies when I turn left/right, hit certain bumps on the right side of my car, or when I press my foot on the gas going faster than 55mph. I don't know if this has anything to do with the other... just stating it for any ones help.
I am scared to drive home today guys... I don't want to lose my powersteering on the freeway.
Does anyone have any suggestions for what is wrong with my baby!?!...
Blain
1993 Eagle Talon
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 4, 2006, 10:01 AM
Post #2 of 8
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Re: Power Steering Loss!!
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We can only guess as I sure you understand with just keyboards to attack. My guess is you need a new or rebuilt rack and pinion and the trouble is that only trying that or other things will tell,  T
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Blain-Talon93
New User
Oct 4, 2006, 10:08 AM
Post #3 of 8
(2139 views)
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Re: Power Steering Loss!!
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Sorry, I know it is frustrating. I called the mechanic back - he said it may be anything from my power steering belt getting wet ( it has rained today and yesterday ) and not retaining it's grip, to a water pump, my power steering pump going OR my rack and pinion.
Ugh... I have no clue where to start and I am still scared to drive it home today from work.
Blain
1993 Eagle Talon
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 4, 2006, 10:30 AM
Post #4 of 8
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Re: Power Steering Loss!!
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Belts can make wild noises. If not self tentioned adjust the tension or replace the spring loaded tentioner if not working. They make belts that are quiet like Gates Gatorback and Dayco makes ones too. I use silicone grease (your call) on older noisy belts and it does shut them up.
However-- even an old noisy belt shouldn't cause loss of power steering if it is holding proper tension?? T
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Blain-Talon93
New User
Oct 4, 2006, 10:43 AM
Post #5 of 8
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Re: Power Steering Loss!!
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That is what I was thinking, I don't know much about cars honestly Tom, but my alternator belt was loose for a bit and made some horrible noises - I had it tightened, now it's a bit sqeuaky as far as tension goes, I used silicone grease on it once and it quieted down but wasn't concerned as long as it was running right... I didn't care about the noise.
I guess I am just a bit at a loss as far as taking it to a mechanic and him telling me everything looked good. He thinks because my car stalled a bit it just lost power to the steering pump for a second and once it kicked in I was on my way - but it didn't do that today ( stutter I mean ), and I still lost power steering. The steering wheel itself is kind of jerky on slight bumps, and not very responsive to being turned - could any of this be caused by my struts needing to be replaced? ie the loss of power steering.
I thank you, for your time with me on this.
Blain
1993 Eagle Talon
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 4, 2006, 7:24 PM
Post #6 of 8
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Re: Power Steering Loss!!
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Struts are possible. They twist with your steering the car so they are part of the puzzle.
Sorry to hear you had bad luck with a shop. It's tough for both you and the shop who tries and nothing happens in front of them.
What I used to do with some of these problems is take the car with agreement from customer and drive it myself for a couple days to find the trouble. I'm retired now but still do some stuff but all those years I knew my customers and if you trust your shop and techs let it be and let them do their work.
This is quickly becoming a world site and please post what gets found and fixed for the world to see, T
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Blain-Talon93
New User
Oct 5, 2006, 5:03 AM
Post #7 of 8
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Re: Power Steering Loss!!
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Very relieved today Tom. All of the advice I was receiving yesterday pointed me in the belt tensioner direction. When my brother thought to maybe tighten it to improve its performance, it came out of the mechanism, the other half still inside. It had been snapped and lodged into the bolt tensioner causing the belt to be very tight and very loose depending on how I drove the car ie. hitting bumps, and how the lodged piece of bolt was sitting.
Sure am glad it didn't go while I was driving it! 
I hope this helps anyone else with a strange problem like mine, and I am so very relieved that it's only a bolt I need replaced.
Thanks again!
Blain-Talon93
Blain
1993 Eagle Talon
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 5, 2006, 6:50 AM
Post #8 of 8
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Re: Power Steering Loss!!
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Thanks for posting the answer. I trust you are all set.
It's just amusing and an old statement of mine that any one of us can be rendered a pedestrian over our beloved cars at any time new or old, T
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