F my life..... Power steering problems...

cavaliers60 · 02-08-2011, 05:53 PM

Turns out the hose was bad and had it replaced at some shop.... Not familiar with them at all as I'm not from around here... Guy said the car is good to go, but the pump will moan for a little bit (I thought that was kinda odd). Sure enough though, the car was moaning away. I needed to get to walmart, so I thought I'd drive it there to help get the fluid through.... On my way there, I heard a squeaking noise coming from the belt.... After going a few more blocks, I heard a bad knocking noise (like if the tred came off the tire and was hitting the wheel well or something), and I immediately pulled the car over. There is power steering fluid sprayed in that area, I'm missing one side of the belt (it's hanging down toward the ground and some is stuck in the pulleys), and I can't drive the car.

So the car got towed back, and the shop is blaming it on the belt or tensioner. I call bull crap on that. They were both JUST FINE before all this!!! Belt is only a month old as I just replaced it!!! Tensioner is only a little over a year old. So I think they did something and caused the fluid to get on the belt which then slipped and got caught on something...

After talking to the lady there, it sounds like they are going to charge me to get it fixed, and I got to pay the tow fee. I can tell you this, THEY are paying the tow fee, and THEY are fixing this mess for free. If they don't, then I'm taking it somewhere else and giving the bill to them.

/rant... Pics coming soon

robalero · 02-08-2011, 06:04 PM

i don't see how or why you should pay for their mess up

Ryan from Ohio · 02-08-2011, 06:30 PM

If they changed a hose out on the pump it stands to reason it could be possible for some fluid to get on the belt if they didnt remove the belt from the engine bay. This take a whole few minutes...

The car was still drivable to get where you needed to be. You just loose power steering. So the tow wasnt necessary unless you couldnt muscle the wheel (to each there own here).

I wouldnt be dead set on a new tensioner unless you can inspect it yourself. Probably just need a new belt.

Belts have funny life spans. I just put a brand new Duralast one on my fiances car about a year ago. Over the weekend I changed the water pump and noticed a crack all the way across the belt. Thats unusual... However thats the card were dealt.

Its probably just a belt... If that garage owns the tow truck and did the tow then they should eat it... Worse case scenario pay with a credit card then back charge them.

sleepyalero · 02-08-2011, 06:30 PM

B*tch em out man I wouldn't settle for that. Tell them there customer service sucks ass and it was fine when you took it there and had problems after they got done with it. If it was my step dad.... he would rip a new ass to everyone There and I would just sit back and laugh while he did.

I wouldn't be paying for it!

robalero · 02-08-2011, 07:18 PM

i wouldn't go in bitching full blast you never get anywheres fast with it, but if you go in there talking calmly and respectful ull get much better results

Lucalare · 02-08-2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robalero

i wouldn't go in bitching full blast you never get anywheres fast with it, but if you go in there talking calmly and respectful ull get much better results

This guy is correct, be polite but firm in the fact that you are dissatisfied, and that you expect them to pay the full cost of towing and fixing the belt. Whatever you do do not lose your temper and shout at them, because then you become a very large 5 year old throwing a tantrum.

cavaliers60 · 02-08-2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan from Ohio

If they changed a hose out on the pump it stands to reason it could be possible for some fluid to get on the belt if they didnt remove the belt from the engine bay. This take a whole few minutes...

The car was still drivable to get where you needed to be. You just loose power steering. So the tow wasnt necessary unless you couldnt muscle the wheel (to each there own here).

I wouldnt be dead set on a new tensioner unless you can inspect it yourself. Probably just need a new belt.

Belts have funny life spans. I just put a brand new Duralast one on my fiances car about a year ago. Over the weekend I changed the water pump and noticed a crack all the way across the belt. Thats unusual... However thats the card were dealt.

Its probably just a belt... If that garage owns the tow truck and did the tow then they should eat it... Worse case scenario pay with a credit card then back charge them.

All they changed was the return hose. The guy said he never touched the belt. I probably could have driven it back, but the only problem was the fact that the belt was falling apart. One side of the belt was missing and dangling down.... I really had no choice but to have it towed back. I am not paying for anything. Regardless of what THEY say... I already left a note for them to not do anything to the car unless I'm there. I took pictures while waiting on the tow truck....

AleroB888 · 02-08-2011, 07:55 PM

My impression is it's the shop's fault all the way, I'd almost expect a bad power steering pump, too.....

Lucalare · 02-08-2011, 08:01 PM

Might be a bad pump, especially since there's power steering fluid all over the place, they couldn't have spilled much unless they tried, it's an easy pour to make.

cavaliers60 · 02-08-2011, 09:09 PM

it probably is... The thing that made me a little confused is the guy said the car was good to go even though the pump was still making groaning noises.... Like really BAD groaning noises. So they get to fix it, and I'm not paying a dime for it except for the $200 I paid today.... Just sucks cause I'm stranded in Terre Haute, I need to get home tomorrow, and I really have no way to get home.... I got an interview for a full time job on Thursday....

sfi3400 · 02-08-2011, 09:17 PM

Ill say its the shop 100%, for me if im in a area im not familiar with and need a fix, i always tell them im going to stay there and watch them work on my car. I always take pics right b4 it goes in the bay, and video if its making sound or sounds normal....but yea dont go in all terminator, if it gets to the point they wont pay then go and bs them out.....Good luck on your interview btw

lonnie · 02-09-2011, 07:50 AM

Damn dude I feel for you...this is why I NEVER trust any mechanics...I don't care how highly recommended, and trust worthy someone says they are. I ask for the old part and watch them like a hawk.

kwhauck · 02-09-2011, 08:10 AM

sounds like they probably put in a reman pump, and the reman pump was bad, frozen pulley will send your belt around and could cause it to jump and shred, like you mentioned....

Ryan from Ohio · 02-09-2011, 12:59 PM

If all they did was change a line then maybe the pump went bad on its own?

Its possible.

cavaliers60 · 02-09-2011, 03:12 PM

I'm thinking since the pump has been making groaning noises, that the pump is bad now and the pully did freeze up. It's funny cause the receipt I got for the belt replacement (which I paid for) says they checked the pulley's and the power steering one moves in and out a little, and if it happens again, the pump needs to be replaced... I'm like WTF!!!!! They told me everything was fine the first time, now something else is wrong??? I'd say since the pump still groans and such when I turn..... I'm probably going to get the pump replaced with help from my uncle. Then I'll send them the bill for the pump and probably ask for my $100 back for the belt replacement. They got really defensive when I told them about the belt too... Like they were blaming the belt or the tensioner. They even said that they never touched the belt or pump which makes me wonder... I'm pretty sure I told them something was wrong with my power steering... You'd think they would check EVERYTHING....