Power steering not working

Tiny
LJDILLON
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS
  • 3.4L
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 93,808 MILES
It started when turning left. Felt like it got stuck. Repair shop replaced high pressure line for power steering. On drive home whining noise began. No one but myself seemed to hear. I kept a close watch on power steering fluid level adding when needed.

next it was running hotter than normal and loosing coolant. Repair shop said most likely my rack and pinion needed to be replaced. Hard to really tell due to heavy grease sludge dirt. Also the water pump. I could only afford the water pump.

i began wiping the underneath due to heavy grease and sludge dirt. Found that the oil filter was close to coming off. It was not even hand tight.

to me the sleeves on inner tie rods checked out okay. The outer boots cracked torn need replacement.

i need new tires all around but front almost bald.

how do I clean the bottom area of the thick nasty grease dirt sludge?

what should be replaced first, tires or tie rods or if it is rack and pinion?

how do I find an honest repair shop that will not take advantage over pricing?

any advice will be greatly appreciated. I am starting to feel desperate.

thank you.
Sunday, May 19th, 2019 AT 10:52 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

There are products out there that you can get at your local auto parts store or Walmart/Kmart that are made for engine degreasing. Usually one spray can will be enough to clean up everything and it is usually a foam. Squirt it on and let it set for 5-10 minutes and then wash it off with a hose. If I were to replace parts I would probably start with the tires, and then tie rod ends, and leave the rack and pinion for last unless, of course, something fails, then that will need to replaced first.
If you need guides on replacing any of these parts, please, do not hesitate to ask. That's what we are here for.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Sunday, May 19th, 2019 AT 11:24 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi,

I will try to answer your questions in order. Please tell me if I missed something.

1. Pressure washers are the easiest but a degreaser and stiff brush will work just the same. This will get dirty so just make sure you are doing it in a place that is easily washed down. I would not do this in your garage because all that grease and dirt will be all over the ground and even if you have a drain in your garage, you don't want to wash that into it.

2. It is a good idea to replace suspension components that are worn out prior to replacing tires. However, if the tires are almost bald, you want to replace those soon. Clearly bald tires are a safety issue but if you put new tires on a suspension that is worn out you will potentially damage the new tires. It is always recommended to align a vehicle when you put new tires on and you can't align a vehicle that has worn steering or suspension components.

3. The best way to find a relay shop is by word of mouth. Simply ask your friends and family where they go and if they are trustworthy. Unfortunately, there is no sure way to find a trustworthy shop. You will just need to trust your circle of contacts and then try them out.

Please let me know if I missed something.
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Sunday, May 19th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM
Tiny
LJDILLON
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you so much for your reply.
Specifically what areas do I need to cover or not expose to degreaser? Not sure what is what.
Inner and outer tie rod replacement should cost approximately?
Thanks again.
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Sunday, May 19th, 2019 AT 11:47 AM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

Be careful around electrical connectors, wires, gaskets, and hoses. It will work great on heavy thick oily deposits. On the really, really thick oily spots foam it on and let it sit for five to ten minutes, then reapply and scrub with a scrub brush. Rinse off with a hose and if needed, repeat. I have included the estimates for both the inner and outer tie rod ends in the diagrams down below. Keep in mind though that these are the price estimates at the dealership and that you might be able to get parts and labor rates a little less expensive at another shop. For labor add the labor times together and multiply what the average shop labor rate is where you live at.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Sunday, May 19th, 2019 AT 3:58 PM
Tiny
LJDILLON
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you to all who replied. I really appreciate the information.
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 AT 10:13 PM

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