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question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 10th 06, 07:47 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Default question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion

Hi everyone,

Let me start by saying i am not a 'car person'. I put gas in it, drive
it and change the oil in it as needed -- you know, the basics. I have
no idea what things cost to repair, all i know is only expensive things
break on my car. haha

Anyway, yesterday it seems as though my power steering went out on my
car (a 2001 pt cruiser). The steering wheel was suddenly tight but the
car is still drivable. I tried filling my tires with air in hopes that
would help the problem but it didn't (that had previously resolved this
problem). I checked my fluids and they are fine too. In fact last week
I had my oil changed and all fluids checked and topped off.

I took my car to Midas today to have them take a look. They didn't have
time to work on my car today but some one came out to take a quick look
at things. He told me it appeared as though the belts were still on the
pump. (all i really heard was a cash register ringing up what is sure
to be a huge bill).
He asked me if I had heard any sqeauling while driving. I told him that
only once i had heard a low whine after this problem started. However,
I have not heard it since.
He told me it could also be the rack and pinion steering (am i spelling
that right?).
If it is either the PS pump or the R&P steering -- about how much do
either of those things cost?
I just want to prepare myself for the bill.
Any info would be really helpful. its all i can think about at the
moment; my money is so tight. I just need a number to prepare myself!

Thanks!
- Kelly

Ads
  #2  
Old June 10th 06, 08:43 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Default question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion


> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi everyone,

Rack and pinion unit from NAPA costs ca $260
Power steering pump is about $60

Figure mechanics time at about $75 per hour, plus fluid, etc.



  #3  
Old June 11th 06, 03:36 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Default question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion

Thank you!!! this makes me feel so much better! I don't love the $75/
an hour part (which i think is what midas charges) but i can deal with
a few hundred dollars.
i think i am a little gunshy because i suddenly had to replace my
radiotor last year and it was almost $1000!! now whenever something
happens i get a little worried about the cash i will have to put out.
my emergency fund is just not that big!

thanks again!

- kelly

wrote:
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Hi everyone,

> Rack and pinion unit from NAPA costs ca $260
> Power steering pump is about $60
>
> Figure mechanics time at about $75 per hour, plus fluid, etc.


  #4  
Old June 11th 06, 01:13 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Posts: n/a
Default question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion


> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thank you!!! this makes me feel so much better! I don't love the $75/
> an hour part (which i think is what midas charges) but i can deal with
> a few hundred dollars.
> i think i am a little gunshy because i suddenly had to replace my
> radiotor last year and it was almost $1000!! now whenever something
> happens i get a little worried about the cash i will have to put out.
> my emergency fund is just not that big!
>
> thanks again!
>
> - kelly


Kelly, remember that these are reference prices. Be sure you know what the
garage, be it
Midas or anyone else, is going to charge you.

While you could march into NAPA and buy a rack and pinion unit for the
prices I found
for you, it doesn't mean that the garage of your choice will charge you the
same prices.
They can mark them up just about as much as they choose.

I cannot imagine you had to pay a grand for a radiator replacement. Now, I
don't know
much about the PT Cruiser, but that is a LOT of money. If Chrysler wanted
that much for
a radiator, I would have looked for an aftermarket replacement, even a
custom unit if I had
to do so. Radiators can be had, usually, for $100-250 range. Putting them
in is normally
a 'cake walk'.

Be sure you know what to expect before having this work completed.



  #5  
Old June 11th 06, 01:35 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Posts: n/a
Default question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion


> wrote in message
. com...
>
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Thank you!!! this makes me feel so much better! I don't love the $75/
> > an hour part (which i think is what midas charges) but i can deal with
> > a few hundred dollars.
> > i think i am a little gunshy because i suddenly had to replace my
> > radiotor last year and it was almost $1000!! now whenever something
> > happens i get a little worried about the cash i will have to put out.
> > my emergency fund is just not that big!
> >
> > thanks again!
> >
> > - kelly

>
> Kelly, remember that these are reference prices. Be sure you know what

the
> garage, be it
> Midas or anyone else, is going to charge you.
>
> While you could march into NAPA and buy a rack and pinion unit for the
> prices I found
> for you, it doesn't mean that the garage of your choice will charge you

the
> same prices.
> They can mark them up just about as much as they choose.
>
> I cannot imagine you had to pay a grand for a radiator replacement. Now,

I
> don't know
> much about the PT Cruiser, but that is a LOT of money. If Chrysler wanted
> that much for
> a radiator, I would have looked for an aftermarket replacement, even a
> custom unit if I had
> to do so. Radiators can be had, usually, for $100-250 range. Putting

them
> in is normally
> a 'cake walk'.
>
> Be sure you know what to expect before having this work completed.


Further to the above,
http://www.speedyautoparts.com/find/...P22980102.html

Radiator for the PT Cruiser costs $147 at this particular place. You might
find
better and worse, cheaper and more expensive but $1000!!!!!!!


  #6  
Old June 11th 06, 03:44 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion


> wrote in message
. com...

> Further to the above,
> http://www.speedyautoparts.com/find/...P22980102.html
>
> Radiator for the PT Cruiser costs $147 at this particular place. You

might
> find
> better and worse, cheaper and more expensive but $1000!!!!!!!



One last item...
You don't say whether you are male or female, and your name could indicate
either.

IF you are female, I am sure you know that there are unscrupulous mechanics
and
garages which will take advantage of your perceived lack of knowledge. They
will
do the same to a man who goes in and advertises that he knows nothing about
cars, 'just fix it'.

**You need to go in forewarned and prearmed with facts. Ask questions, get
answers,
and set limits.

If you live in the USA, I might suggest you do the above**, and then look at
the AAA
website for their list of approved mechanics. Don't go with a pig in a
poke.


  #7  
Old June 11th 06, 03:58 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Posts: n/a
Default question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion

Time to find another garage, you are being ripped off by the sounds of
it!

'You' should go and check the fluid yourself. The power steering pump
has a cap with a dipstick on it for checking the power steering fluid.
You might just have a leaky fitting allowing the fluid to escape.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

wrote:
>
> Thank you!!! this makes me feel so much better! I don't love the $75/
> an hour part (which i think is what midas charges) but i can deal with
> a few hundred dollars.
> i think i am a little gunshy because i suddenly had to replace my
> radiotor last year and it was almost $1000!! now whenever something
> happens i get a little worried about the cash i will have to put out.
> my emergency fund is just not that big!
>
> thanks again!
>
> - kelly
>
>
wrote:
> > > wrote in message
> > oups.com...
> > > Hi everyone,

> > Rack and pinion unit from NAPA costs ca $260
> > Power steering pump is about $60
> >
> > Figure mechanics time at about $75 per hour, plus fluid, etc.

  #8  
Old June 11th 06, 04:49 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion

On Sun, 11 Jun 2006 12:13:31 GMT, > wrote:

>
> wrote in message
roups.com...
>> Thank you!!! this makes me feel so much better! I don't love the $75/
>> an hour part (which i think is what midas charges) but i can deal with
>> a few hundred dollars.
>> i think i am a little gunshy because i suddenly had to replace my
>> radiotor last year and it was almost $1000!! now whenever something
>> happens i get a little worried about the cash i will have to put out.
>> my emergency fund is just not that big!
>>
>> thanks again!
>>
>> - kelly

>
>Kelly, remember that these are reference prices. Be sure you know what the
>garage, be it
>Midas or anyone else, is going to charge you.
>
>While you could march into NAPA and buy a rack and pinion unit for the
>prices I found
>for you, it doesn't mean that the garage of your choice will charge you the
>same prices.
>They can mark them up just about as much as they choose.
>
>I cannot imagine you had to pay a grand for a radiator replacement. Now, I
>don't know
>much about the PT Cruiser, but that is a LOT of money. If Chrysler wanted
>that much for
>a radiator, I would have looked for an aftermarket replacement, even a
>custom unit if I had
>to do so. Radiators can be had, usually, for $100-250 range. Putting them
>in is normally
>a 'cake walk'.


Not in a PT Loser! Considerable disassembly is required. Tthe
radiator, fans and condensor are all bolted together and intended to
be replaced as a "module." You can work around this but takes a good
deal longer than slapping a radiator in a Camry or a Honda. Even
aftermarket, the radiator is a little pricier than most.

Don
www.donsautomotive.com


>Be sure you know what to expect before having this work completed.
>
>


  #9  
Old June 11th 06, 08:25 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion


"Don" > wrote in message
...
>
> Not in a PT Loser! Considerable disassembly is required. Tthe
> radiator, fans and condensor are all bolted together and intended to
> be replaced as a "module." You can work around this but takes a good
> deal longer than slapping a radiator in a Camry or a Honda. Even
> aftermarket, the radiator is a little pricier than most.
>
> Don
> www.donsautomotive.com


That is a good point. There are always applications that take longer to
repair, are more troublesome, etc. A grand seem a lot, but that would
just about equal a 10 hour flatrate plus a radiator..


  #10  
Old June 11th 06, 08:56 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default question about cost to repair PS or rack & pinion

On Sun, 11 Jun 2006 19:25:49 GMT, > wrote:

>
>"Don" > wrote in message
.. .
>>
>> Not in a PT Loser! Considerable disassembly is required. Tthe
>> radiator, fans and condensor are all bolted together and intended to
>> be replaced as a "module." You can work around this but takes a good
>> deal longer than slapping a radiator in a Camry or a Honda. Even
>> aftermarket, the radiator is a little pricier than most.
>>
>> Don
>> www.donsautomotive.com

>
>That is a good point. There are always applications that take longer to
>repair, are more troublesome, etc.


Try replacing the radiator in a '98 Taurus in your driveway. Chances
are you will end up having it towed to a body shop unless you shoot
yourself first! Bumper, grill, whole damn front end comes off to do
it!

Don
www.donsautomotive.com

> A grand seem a lot, but that would
>just about equal a 10 hour flatrate plus a radiator..
>


 




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