I did a search, and I didn't find any other threads on this...

But, my '99 Malibu is making a really weird sound (like a moaning) when I turn left or right, and my check engine light sporadically comes on, and also my washer fluid container is leaking.

First, does anyone know what could cause the moaning? It happens if i turn a lot either direction, and then goes away mostly after I straighten out, then goes away as long as I drive more or less straight. It also seemed to maybe start about a month after I got a brake job from Midas (or Meineke, can't remember which).

Second, where would be a good place to take this, that will fix the problem, and won't rip me off?

3/2/2006 10:41:28 PM

zxappeal can help ya out i'm sure

also, is it a moaning or a squealing? if it's more a squealing could be something with your power steering.

[Edited on March 2, 2006 at 10:43 PM. Reason : .]

3/2/2006 10:43:00 PM

The moaning is a whore trapped under your hood.

No, seriously, you need to check your power steering fluid. That moaning noise is the power steering pump cavitating due to lack of fluid (either that or the bitch is wore the fuck out).

3/2/2006 10:43:51 PM

Put some LUCAS power steering fix in it and see what happens. Its good stuff

3/2/2006 10:48:25 PM

LUCAS MUCOUS

3/2/2006 10:51:02 PM

^ u want me to drop that impact by tonight? i have nothing to do, or meet up at cookout?

3/2/2006 10:55:03 PM

I doubt the steering noise and the check engine light are related problems. You have a PM

3/2/2006 10:56:31 PM

^I definitely agree with that unless it has a power steering pressure sensor.

3/2/2006 10:59:32 PM

It's definitely a moaning... just imagine the sound a vacuum cleaner would make if you tried to hold the brush still.

The power-steering pump thing sounds plausible (although, I don't know what it is), but my guess would have been some type of pump. Plus, it's the famous zxappeal that said it too I remember looking at my fluids a few days ago (when I discovered the washer fluid was leaking), and it seemed the power steering fluid was full... could it be anything else, if not that?

The check engine light seems to come on and off in the course of a week, which seems to coincide with about how often I get gas.

[Edited on March 2, 2006 at 11:57 PM. Reason : ]

3/2/2006 11:55:01 PM

Do you tighten your gas cap enough?

Power steering pumps can moan even when full of fluid if they are worn. My brother in law has a '94 Corsica with eleventy-bajillion miles on it, and his pump makes all kinds of noise.

3/3/2006 12:50:32 AM

put a stick of dynomite in the gas tank

that should fix it

3/3/2006 12:51:36 AM

So, for the problem with the power steering, what do they usually have to do to fix it? Just replace the pump?

Typically how much would/should something like that cost?

edit:
It seems power steering pumps typically go for about $70 bucks, so i'm look at that plus labor (how much would this be?).

Also, searching online, it seems that people that have cracks in their reservoirs also have this problem with the noise (from air getting in). I may look in to this, because a few years back after a minor fender bender, the battery got cracked, and the washer fluid tank is right by the battery (and i'm guessing cracked by the same stresses, just taken longer to manifest), and the power steering is close to the same area too.

[Edited on March 3, 2006 at 2:37 AM. Reason : ]

3/3/2006 2:29:46 AM

^ insurance, if it was related to the accident

3/3/2006 12:53:52 PM

Quote :

"Good chevrolet repair? "

first, you need a good chevrolet

3/6/2006 6:56:10 PM

^ paradoxical?

Okay, I lied.

3/6/2006 7:08:20 PM

yeah, buy a truck, the cars are shit

3/6/2006 10:55:24 PM

hey i heard you can get the good deals at discount tire ask for Louis Nutts

3/7/2006 10:58:10 PM

I took it to the dealer today and they said that the Power Steering Return hose was messed up, and the Check Engine light was the oxygen sensor.

They quoted a new Power Steering Hose to be $80 with about $70 labor, and a new Oxygen sensor for $130 with about $80 labor.

I looked at this website called http://www.rockauto.com and it seems that the cost of those components don't cost anywhere near that much. I'm thinking the price they gave me was either the part+support parts, or they are buying really expensive parts, or they are trying to cushion their margins some.

Before I give them the benefit of the doubt, do those prices seem reasonable for what they are saying is wrong (i'm not worried too much about the labor, but the parts cost seems high to me)?

[Edited on March 8, 2006 at 12:59 AM. Reason : er]

3/8/2006 12:59:00 AM

That's because Rock Auto is selling aftermarket equivalent parts...much like you being able to buy generic drugs.

The functionality is the same (or close) but they're not genuine Chevrolet parts.

Also, every repair shop in the country (including dealer shops) has a markup on parts. It helps cover procurement costs, and increases their profit margin into the somewhat acceptable range.

Believe me, nobody's getting really rich selling you parts.

And just about any local repair shop worth a damn could have also made this diagnosis; you don't have to go to the dealer to get that kind of service.

3/8/2006 8:53:11 AM

chevy cars sucks ass

3/8/2006 1:14:25 PM

^^ Ahh... okay, thanks.

3/8/2006 2:56:39 PM