(no subject)

[learnedax]

Hmm. I don't love how my steering has started getting extremely stiff when the car is cold, gradually loosening up over a few minutes driving. This seems to be yet another quirky cold-weather behavior for this vehicle, more annoying than the random lighting of the antifreeze alert and less annoying than the rear doors refusing to open in the wintertime, but definitely not something I love.

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[plymouth.livejournal.com]

So, uh, since you answered my poll in the affirmative I shall now tell you that you were in fact person X from my dream the other night. *blushes*.

And everyone who is reading this who is not on my friendslist can just wonder! Hah!

Re: Unrelated to this post...

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

...we're not wondering *that* much. :-P

Re: Unrelated to this post...

[learnedax.livejournal.com]

Well, huh. You'd think I'd have something useful to say, but, you know, dreams are weird. Especially that one.

I'm kind of glad I wasn't that other guy, though.

Re: Unrelated to this post...

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

Hey, no one who has died in one of my dreams has died yet in real life! It might be a good-luck charm!

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

Check the power steering fluid. It might be low, it might be high(!), or have gotten water in it, and could need to be flushed. The guys at Valvoline will do it for you for a small fee (<$50 IIRC). It's probably time to throw some minor money at your car anyway, now that (a) you have some and before (b) something expensive happens because of lack of maintenance.

[new-man.livejournal.com]

Seconded. Especially in the cold/warm/cold weather it's easy to get condesate building up in your systems. Power steering seems to be the most susceptible to this, but it can also happen in your brake fluid, transmission fluid, or even gas tank. It's worth going to a all-in-one service place (Jiffy Lube, Valvoline, etc.) and having them flush the systems.

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

I doubt it is a fluid level problem since that would have two results:
1) The pump would whine. If it was really low it would whine like a banshee.
2) It wouldn't improve once the car warmed up.

But, yeah, power steering fluid is supposed to be clear (not perfectly clear like water, but close). If it is milky it means you have water in it and flushing and refilling the system should fix the problem. If it is blackish and smells burnt you might need a new pump or a new rack.

I replaced my entire power steering system on my dear departed Plymouth (*rest in pieces*) once. Much fun! Er, that is if you consider swearing at a Small Metal Cylinder Of Immovability for two days before giving up and having the car towed to the mechanic "fun". (Next power steering rack replacement and we got it out though!)

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

Hey, do you know where I can get a power flush for my radiator? I was supposed to get one forever ago, and didn't, and happened to remember when I noticed that my car seems to be running hot all the time.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

Valvoline (on Main St., east of town center) should do that too.

[cat9.livejournal.com]

Just how cold is it when this starts happening? If it's ten below that makes sense - my car does it too for the first couple of miles. If it's just around freezing, you've probably get a power steering fluid issue. (Assuming you have power steering, that is.)