Power Steering, GONE!

[dm_longhorn]

I've had a slow power steering leak for a while, but nothing serious, it has never gone below the "min" line.

Lately I've been getting the groaning noise when turning at slow speeds.

After driving 30 miles, parking and getting back in my car, my power steering completely went out.

I've made sure the level resivoir is full, but nothing.

QUESTIONS:

What are the possible causes?

What are the estimated costs for each?

 

[selavia]

Uhm... the groaning noises are an indiciation that there is NO lubrication within the steering pump. You should STOP immediately when you hear these noises and fill. Turning, especially when stopped (when the pump is used at its highest) without lubrication is really bad for the pump.

I wonder what is actually leaking:

If it's your rack & pinion... you're looking at $1,000ish or at least around that, if not a bit more. I remember my brother had one replaced on his old Camry for $800 installed; and that was a rebuilt.

If the pump is leaking, I'd say you're looking at $500ish.

I think those are the two things that it could be given the fact that you said you have had a leak.

Good luck

 

[LeaderP]

I had a somewhat similar problem that is still bothering me.

When shopping last Xmas, I backed out of the parking spot and ran the drivers side rear tire slightly up the curb of an island in the parking lot. I didn't hit it hard and the tire probably got off the ground and inch or so.

When I pulled forward and turned the wheel, a loud groaning sound was coming from the engine compartment and the wheel was VERY hard to turn. I drove it home about 2 miles and didn't have to turn the wheel too much until I got in my neighborhood.

I started the car a while later and it was still acting up. Called a tow truck the next day and took it in to a local shop (no more visits to the Stealer in Detroit!). We rolled the car off the flat bed and didn't start it.

Next morning, the shop called and said there's nothing wrong with the car. I asked them to try hitting some bumps and inquiring about the problem through their mechanics network. They came up empty and didn't charge me a dime.

Three months later, still working fine but I'm more careful in parking lots.

The cap on the power steering fluid reservoir allows some leakage and I've added a little fluid over the last 7 years. The hoses all checked out fine.

 

[Johninjax]

The power steering pumps in the E46 are prone to failure. I had mine replaced yesterday, it started making a hellacious noise (think a gear not fully engaging). My fluid was full, I opted to replace before complete failure. In speaking to the tech I was told that they are getting a lot of these cars with this problem, so much so that one of his suppliers is out of the pumps and they are back ordered. He got mine from the local dealership.