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Winemaker
Sport climber
Yakima, WA
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Sep 27, 2017 - 06:19pm PT
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Hope it's nothing expensive. As far as new cars, I've only ever owned one, always bought used with 10k miles or so on the speedo and have had extremely good luck with that. My current ride #1 is a 2009 V-6 Rav4 which has been awesome in both reliability and performance. It just ticked over 150k miles and total repairs are (2) sets brake pads front and rear and 1 set front rotors, struts & shocks, spark plugs (at 120k miles!!!), two sets of tires, oil and filters, and air filters. The cams are chain driven, so no need to replace the timing belt. Total cost (I do all the work myself) less tires is about $700 ±. Tires hurt, but no options there.
Bought an immaculate 2007 Mazda 3 back from my ex-wife this spring (80k miles) for $4k and sank about $1k for shocks, struts, brakes, & tires. I expect it to last for another 60k miles.
What's scary is to calculate how much you've spent on gas to drive 150k miles. The Rav4 since I got it is right at 24 miles/gallon, so 6250 gallons of gas @ $2.75/gallon is a bit over $17000. Ouch. That's the major expense.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
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Sep 27, 2017 - 06:55pm PT
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Ford power steering pumps are notorious for under-performing...Buy a re-built and you'll probably have the same problem...When i win the lottery , i'll buy you a new van...rj
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ionlyski
Trad climber
Polebridge, Montana
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Sep 27, 2017 - 07:13pm PT
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Chainsaw's post
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Sep 27, 2017 - 10:29pm PT
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I know verify little about automotive stuff... but when doing research for buying an Econoline for 4x4 xconversion vs Sprinter 4x4, I read up a lot about wheels and tires.
If you have a Frankenstein van with prior work and modifications, check if the wheels/tires are over-sized compared to stock. Apparently that can put a lot of strain on tie rods, pitman rods, and other steering parts.
The way I look at used cars is this: it's worth spending money to fix them until the repair expenses exceed the monthly payment on a new one. You're saving money as long as you honor that (sort of- assuming you would buy a new car every time you finished off your old payments).
I try to save in advance and then by a car when I have enough, rather than going into debt with car payments. That is a luxury that many cannot afford if they want a newer car, and yet it costs less in the long run if you can do it. Owning a house is the only thing I think is reasonable to go into debt for, because if you waited until you could afford paying cash you'd be dead and wouldn't need it any more.
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WBraun
climber
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Sep 27, 2017 - 10:41pm PT
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Yeah, check power steering fluid.
Chainsaw remembered.
Also, make sure the belt is tight too ....
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Sep 28, 2017 - 03:18am PT
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Chainsaw. the two that I saw completly fail the wheel just flopped over and what was left put a sizeable dent in the pavement likly bending and wrecking stuff. If you are mechanicly inclined you can do the wheel shake and inspection thing yourself but in happies case she is better off just getting it inspected by a pro ASAP. It may well be a power steering issue??? Anyways best of luck Happie and hope it is not a big deal. Broken tie rod end would be ideal. last time I had one of those replaced it was about 64 bucks.
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Gary
Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Sep 28, 2017 - 05:34am PT
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The way I look at used cars is this: it's worth spending money to fix them until the repair expenses exceed the monthly payment on a new one.
I'd rather have reliability. A vehicle does you no good when it's constantly needing repair. There are some lonely roads in the west, especially roads that lead to climbing areas.
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Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 28, 2017 - 06:45am PT
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Fluid level for the win, it looks like. I just did a quick check, but want to double check with it on a more level spot and heated up more, but after driving appx 2 miles, turning off to stop in to the deli, and coming back less than 1/2 mile, and on a slight decline, the level looked like it was halfway between Cold and Hot levels.
I will still take it to the shop, and let them know if I added fluids, and to check my level and see if there is something else.
I feel silly that I didn't already check the level, but I was misremembering what I read in the owner manual. I thought it aid this van should not use additional fluid, and though I initially thought "check the level" when I noticed the sticking, I also thought "it's not supposed to need....". But, it was the transmission fluid that it said that about, and not the power steering.
And yes, I know someone will say "You're still supposed to CHECK the transmission fluid level." I have done that a while back, but will do so again.
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hooblie
climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
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Sep 28, 2017 - 09:47am PT
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so you're saying we can throw away the dipsticks on our multi-meters?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Sep 28, 2017 - 09:50am PT
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hoobs, this is a family friendly forum.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Sep 28, 2017 - 09:54am PT
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Dood, drill a hole innit and put in a #6-32 screw!
Yer welcome! :-)
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Gary
Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Sep 28, 2017 - 01:38pm PT
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The dipstick for my van is like 3 feet long.
The dipstick for my Subie is 6 feet long. Or so says the Wife.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Sep 28, 2017 - 01:46pm PT
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happie. topping off the fluid may just do the trick. if the noise goes away and it seems to steer properly you should be good to go :)
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Majid_S
Mountain climber
Karkoekstan, Former USSR
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Sep 28, 2017 - 09:25pm PT
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every time a girl came to my shop to explain a car problem I cried
"I was driving, I heard something down there and I got scared and car stopped
or I was driving and a red light keep coming in and out and then heard a big bang and engine stopped
The best was when this Mexican lady that came and said
" Jesus keep blinking keep blinking at me and car died"
I looked at dash light and she had a photo of Jesus over the oil light
well lady, this time Jesus cost you $3000
Anyway, keep the wheel straight and put a small tape on the left side of the steering wheel at 270 degree.
start the car and point your finger at where tape is on the steering wheel.
turn the steering wheel 1 inch to the left and 1" to the right and both front tires should respond to the steering wheel movement.
if wheels respond the steering wheel no more than 1.5 " of steering wheel movement in either direction then 90% of steering system is functioning good.
Now if the steering becomes stuck in the middle or slips on one side, you could have bad power steering pump. bad belt or bad steering rack.
End of story
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EdBannister
Mountain climber
13,000 feet
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Sep 29, 2017 - 09:17am PT
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Galen Rowell owned a garage before he went full time photography.. then he only had to deal with Ron burning a hole in the Aquamist slide by using a loop to focus sunlight, accidentally.
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Gary
Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Sep 29, 2017 - 12:25pm PT
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Well tell your subbie congratulations.
NOW! Actually, she's referring to the driver!
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Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 4, 2017 - 09:22am PT
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Update: The mechanic said the fluid level is within correct range(I decided not to add on my own, worried I might overfill), and a check found no leaks or visible issues which would suggest problems. He took it out to drive and the issue didn't occur, and he felt the steering seemed fine. They billed me $40 and said "So far as we can tell, there's nothing wrong. If it happens again, bring it in immediately so we can check it out." which....if it is happening only sporadically, that's kind of useless.
It has not "done it" since I called to make the appointment, of course.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Gremlins!!!!!!
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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As I suspected, it was the fluoride in the water all along.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Glad to hear the outcome, Happie!
The most frustrating car problems are those that are intermittent, but on the other hand, most serious problem are persistent, not intermittent.
This may have been a rare thing, like some piece of road debris that got caught up in one of the linkages, then became dislodged. You'll probably never know.
But whatever it was, thank goodness it is gone. Good expenditure of $40, for piece of mind!
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