Bluesman

I'm in need of advice. I have an ES300. Evidently, my power steering locked up/broke Sunday night. I ended up towing the car to a Toyota dealer. The diagnosis is that the power steering locked up which caused the pulley belt to break. I need a new pump and a new belt. I was quoted $1,350 for parts and labor. I feel this is quite high and would like to ideally take it a mechanic that I have used previously who has relocated 30 miles from my area. I'm receiving mixed opinions as to whether or not I would damage the steering column that amount (or any amount) of distance. Would I be crazy to drive the car 30 miles or locally to another shop ?

Thanks.

Tammy

Much safer to have it towed, easier on the vehicle also ...

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

if the steering is completely locked then its obviously unsafe.

if its just VERY VERY heavy, then its safe to drive but id be VERY careful and VERY slow.

only do it if the 30mi. is mainly freeway.

mobilyte

iTrader: (3)

i drove my LS with no ps assist for almost 2 years, installed a replacement ps pump recently and flushed all the old fluid, no harm done...lol, my shoulders and arms got a little beefier too!

Lexmex

I have driven in some cars without PS, some oldies and some just plain messed up...and it just becomes heavier to drive...but 30 miles...I would not do that.

VVT-i

Only problem I'm concern about driving the ES300 with no power steering is it can cause the car to overheat. The 1ES and 2ES cooling fan used the hydraulic pressure from the p/s pump to run the cooling fan. If you're gonna drive about 30 miles at high way speed it should be alright,but in the stop and go traffic please keep an eye on temp. gauge.

mikevanle

iTrader: (1)

Time to start lifting some weights. I was driving when one of the power steering lines leaked and all the fluids went buh bye. Taking turns was really hard. I had to drive super slow and turn real hard for the car to turn.

mobilyte

iTrader: (3)

imagine trying to parallel park without power assist near downtown! i'd usually find a spot and leave my car parked for days.

a few weeks ago, my friend commented that he'd never seen me drive the way i was driving, then i reminded her that i recently fixed my power steering

koolaidman

plus beefier arms

Bluesman

Thanks for the replies. I ended up driving the car 30 miles (mostly highway). It was not nearly as bad as I expected. No problems. I'm sure three point turns or U-turns would have been difficult, but just turning corners was not much of a challenge.