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2000 Buick Regal - Power Steering Issues
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Joseph27
New User
Jan 21, 2009, 12:37 PM
Post #1 of 2
(5859 views)
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2000 Buick Regal - Power Steering Issues
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Year of vehicle: 2000
Make of vehicle: Buick
Model of vehicle: Regal
Engine size: 3.8L (not supercharged).
Mileage/Kilometer: 133k Miles
Hello, I'm not sure where I should post this, so I went with the heavy traffic forum.
I bought my 2000 Buick Regal in July 2007, when I first bought the car the steering was a little weird within the first week of buying it. Example: When I'd pull into a gas station and need to put the car in drive, reverse, drive. I'd be moving the wheel as if I was having to parallel park, and the first seconds of changing from drive to reverse, the wheel would be extremely tight.
In August 2008, I noticed my power steering fluid was leaking. A couple of people told me to just add some Stop-Leak type fluid to it. I did that (added Lucas Power Steering Fluid). It kept leaking, I added another bottle over the course of a couple months.
In October 2008, my girlfriend was taking the car to school like she normally would, and she called me on the phone and said "I don't know what's wrong with that car, but I'm not driving it home". So, I asked her what the problem was. She told me the car doesn't steer at all. I went up there and got the car, and it was EXTREMELY tight steering while the car was sitting there idle. It was basically like there was no power steering. So I moved the wheel back and forth, back and forth, all the way one way, all the way the other way. After I did that, the wheel became a little looser and worked semi-decent.
During the course of the next couple weeks it was starting to get pretty cold (roughly 35-45 degrees everyday), I'd turn the car on, the wheel would be extremely tight while in park and it'd also be making a squealing sound, and I'd move the wheel all the way one way, then all the way the other way. After I did this, the wheel became loose once again and there was no squealing sound. I was thinking because the fluid was so thick (that Lucas Power Steering Fluid is thicker than honey). I figured it took a minute to circulate and heat up. Once I turned the wheel a couple times, the squealing would go away.
Now, the last month and a half or so the moving the wheel before driving it trick doesn't work anymore. The power steering only works with your foot on the gas, or if the car is moving pretty quickly without your foot on the brake. It's drivable, but parking the car for her is next to impossible, because there's no steering at such a low speed.
I also checked my power steering fluid and it's full right now.
There's quite a few things people have said: Power Steering Pump, Rack and Pinion, Power Steering Belt is slipping/loose/worn.
Any help would be appreciated! Thanks a lot.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 21, 2009, 2:31 PM
Post #2 of 2
(5856 views)
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Re: 2000 Buick Regal - Power Steering Issues
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Quote:
There's quite a few things people have said: Power Steering Pump, Rack and Pinion, Power Steering Belt is slipping/loose/worn
_________________________
They are right - it could be any or any combo of those things. When the PS fluid was filled and the leak stop failed that was high time to find out where it was leaking and fix it.
There are only some problems that a PS leak treatment can really help - it's usually a delay of the inevitable at best.
Once PS fluid has been run low there are lubrication issues with the pump and or the rack up to an including ruining them.
Make sure the belt is tight for now and if that is fine then you probably need help determining replacement of the pump and possibly the rack as well now.
Note: Steering is naturally easier when rolling along even a little. When stationary the tires are scrubbing in place which is covered by power assist but still a lot of work for it. Also- forcing steering when at the end of its travel puts an incredible force on the components and can cause a problem with systems that didn't have one - use common sense with that stuff,
T
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