I mentioned briefly in another post that my steering was making some noise. Well, I went to the shop closest to my apt, across the street, just to get someone to try to diagnose based on the sound. The mechanic said he wouldn't be driving it anymore if he were I.

After leaving it overnight so they could properly look at it, they called with the bad news. The PS pump is leaking AND the rack is leaking. They also said the master cylinder is leaking. Their initial estimate is over $2500. I told them I wanted a second opinion, so they filled up the PS fluid and I picked up the car.

Now I need to take it to another shop that I heard good things about and have them look at it.

But I have a few questions, that maybe you all can help with.

1. should I try to find used parts and go that route? Junkyard as a source? CL as a source?

2. How bad is it to drive the car as long as I keep putting fluid in? I just coughed up the cash to buy the car, and can't say I'm ready to put a couple more grand into it....so I'd need to just get by for a while. When I drove it home, there was no ugly noise and the steering felt smooth as ever.

If this is indeed the case, that I'm going to have to put some serious $$ into it right away (I've had the car for 2 weeks) I'll be sure to call the previous owner and give him a piece of my mind. I don't think he'll take the car back, but I'm definitely feeling like he sold me a crap car. I knew I should have had the Auto PI guys look at it, but what can I say...I got excited about it, I needed a car asap, and it seemed like a good deal. Too good to be true apparently.

 

get rack n pinon fixed asap

 

Well I finally got my car back yesterday. It's a good thing I got a second opinion, because the initial estimate was WAY out of wack. Instead of buying a new ps pump, they rebuilt it. Instead of a new rack, it only needed the bushings replaced. The brake master was leaking, so they rebuilt that. All told the work came in around $900 which is a LOT better than the $2800 I was told to start with.

After only having the car for two weeks before this minor surgery, I feel like I have a new car again!

Off to the wash today, will snap some pics later.

 

Thats always good news. Glad you got in fixed for more reasonable price. In for the pictures!

 

Running like a champ!