QuestionRE: 91 Toyota 4Runner, V6, 2WD
As I went to make my second to last left turn into work this morning, suddenly the power steering was gone. I passed my normal left turn, accelerated normally and calculated a slow left at the next corner. While I mostly made lefts, I had no better control over right turns. Does this sound like the pump or a valve, and do you have a sense of what the labor might run?
We're approaching the time to replace this vehicle, though it's not the best time financially, and I'd like to keep it another year or so. We do only short in-city drives (>20 miles one-way) in the truck. During warranty work and regular maintenance in the last 8 years, we've had the following replaced: head gaskets, water pump, timing belt (though probably due again...), radiator and master cylinder. The only real problem it has is a slow oil leak in the engine, but I only have to put a quart in every 1000 miles, and that hasn't increased in the time that we've known about the problem. Rather than repair this, should I just suck it up and replace the truck?
AnswerFirst of all check that the power steering belt did not break, if the belt is intact the problem is probably that the P/S pump has been leaking and finally ran out of fluid, in that case you can have the pump resealed.
A quart of oil consumption per 1000 miles is considered normal so there is no problem there except that the rear engine main seal is probably leaking to some extend, or the valve covers are leaking, both are common leaks on this engine( I know, because I have a 1990 4 Runner with 250k plus miles on it) I recommend having the power steering problem fixed and it will probably be good for a few more years, I can't make a decision for you as to whether to get rid of it now or not but if you do not take it on long trips it will probably be ok until you are able to trade it in on another newer car or truck.
