10% to 25% off contacts.

Special Sections
-- Baby Boomers -- Family -
-- Green -- Home and Auto --
-- In Critical Condition -- Lifestyle --
-- Just Starting Out -- Money --



The Car Care Clinic

Power Steering Problems

by Bob DeP.
AskBob@stretcher.com

share your thoughts
about frugal living
at TDS Community
 
Web Stretcher.com

Subscribe to Our Money Saving Newsletter

Also In This Week's Issue

Money games for kids

10 hot toys for under $20

How repossession affects credit score

Marriage doesn't wipe out credit history

Visit our Library
Advertise on this site

Dear Bob,
I have a sorta 2-part question on power steering. I have a 1985 Buick Skyhawk with 122,000 miles. I have developed a leak in the power steering. Sometimes it leaks worse than others, and it seems to have stopped now that: 1. it is cooler outside ( Atlanta, below 90 degrees :) 2. I put some of that Stop-leak in it, a few cans of it. is it worth it to continue putting that stuff in it, will it fail while I am driving ?

Also, now that it is cold, 40 degree mornings, my power steering gets stuck in the morning. When I first start out, it won't turn. I let it warm up some, 2-5 minutes, then as I am backing out, I try to turn. It STICKS, finally turns (slowly at first), then works OK the rest of the trip. Is this related to question #1, and what is the answer?
Paul C

Paul,
The problem with dumping in pint after pint of stop leak is that you can eventually clog the rack or the steering box. I don't think that your car has a steering rack. But in any case, if you cant stop the problem with just two applications, then you should consider an alternative solution. You can probably get a used pump.... wait... how do we know it is the pump that is bad... maybe it is a hose or a clamp that is loose... You need to find out exactly where the leak is.... now assuming that it is the pump... you can get a used one from a junk yard. They are not that difficult to change. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate this one a 4 based solely on messiness.... Now as to the problem of the power steering sticking... I think you now know the answer to that....
Good Luck!
Drive Safely!
Bob, The Auto Answer Man

If you have a question for Bob send it to: AskBob@stretcher.com. He's able to answer many of them personally and we'll include the best questions in future issues of The Dollar Stretcher.

Take the Next Step

  • Reduce the cost of your gasoline with a 'gas card'. You can compare them here.

Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips @stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!

If you liked this article sign up for our free eNewsletter Surviving Tough Times Do it today and we'll give you our ebook featuring over 200 ways to save on groceries (a $19.95 value).

Follow The Dollar Stretcher on Twitter.

I Would like to:

Would you like to tell a Frugal Friend about this article? Just fill out their email address and your name and we'll send them the URL.
Enter your friend's email:
Enter your name:
Enter a message to your friend:

Copyright 1996 - 2009 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc.". All rights reserved unless specifically noted.

Write to the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton
FL 34280-4160

941-761-7805 voice
941-761-8301 fax

"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.