quick car question-timing belt and water pump

Parent Cafe
21

<p>I just noticed the car has sprung a leak and it is whining esp when I turn so off to the shop it goes.</p>

22

<p>oh boy- they tell me the whining that started with the leak is power steering related and needs hoses and a resevoir replaced for 400 (hopefully the pump is not damaged). They also tell me that a rubber motor mount is cracked and should be replaced (255) and the front shocks/struts/boots are leaking (660). They tell me the latter two can wait.</p>

<p>YIKES. forget college my son is going to mechanic school.</p>

23

<p>Poor some power steering fluid in the reservoir and Find another shop… You might want to start at Car Talk’s - find a mechanic file…</p>

<p>[Car</a> Talk | Mechanics Files](<a href=“http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/find.html]Car”>Mechanics Files | Car Talk)</p>

<p>oh boy- they tell me the whining that started with the leak is power steering related and needs hoses and a resevoir replaced for 400 (hopefully the pump is not damaged). They also tell me that a rubber motor mount is cracked and should be replaced (255) and the front shocks/struts/boots are leaking (660). They tell me the latter two can wait.</p>

24

<p>^^ A cracked motor mount should typically be replaced right away since on some vehicles, i.e. a typical Detroit V8 vehicle, a cracked MM can cause the engine to torque up such that the fan can go through the radiator. </p>

<p>Whining, especially when turning the wheels, is often the power steering - typically due to low fluid levels because of a leak or a bad pump because of leaking seals, possibly internally so there’s no actual fluid loss. If it’s an actual leak with fluid loss it’s typically because of a leak in the high pressure hose. I’d start by replacing that one first if you can’t see where the actual leak is coming from. If it’s the pump, like the one that would fail on my Ford Exploder multiple times, then you have to replace the pump although you can often replace it with a remanufactured unit. I just did mine myself and it cost < $100 each time.</p>

<p>The prices you mentioned seem high but I’m out of touch with prices since I do most of my own work, so as in earlier advice given here, go get a quote form an independent repair shop as well.</p>