Steering Trouble

My sister has a 1987 Camry

She called me today and told me she was driving and her steering failed. She said the wheel was really hard to turn or maybe even locked?

She applied the brakes and came to a stop and the steering started to work again. This has happened two times in the last week.

I haven't looked at the car yet, I will see it this weekend.

So a little bit of history.

1) About 4 years ago her car was stolen. They jammed the ignition lock. She got the car back. The key starts the car fine, almost any key starts the car since the ignition cylinder lock is broken. Once the car is started the key can be pulled out without turning the key back to the off position. Also once or twice the starter engaged while the car was running. All pointing to a broken ignition cylinder lock. I am just wondering if the steering column lock suffered damage when the ignition lock was broken when the car was stolen.

2) About a year ago my sister poured, topped off her power steering fluid with motor oil. I caught it within a week or so. I removed all the fluid in the power steering reservoir with a turkey baster, refilled the reservoir and started the car, turned the steering wheel side to side a few times with the car running and then I removed the fluid again with the baster. I repeated this about 10x or so until I used up a gallon of ATF.

So I am thinking I should have removed the hose drained the system and ran the car for a few seconds with the hose disconnected. The filled it up with fresh ATF and flushed it again. This would have been better then what I did.

So now wondering what is going on with her steering. At first I thought the steering column is locking do to the damage from the theft. However that was 4 years ago and I would think it would have showed up before now. So now am thinking power steering failure due to the motor oil? Pump? Rack?

Any ideas?

Reply to
Tube Audio
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"Tube Audio" wrote: (1987 Camry)

1.) The power steering sometimes fails when driving. The wheel gets really hard to turn or maybe even locked, but it begins working again when the car is stopped. A year ago, the PS reservoir was accidentally topped off with motor oil. I flushed most of it out and refilled it with the correct PS fluid. Could the remaining unflushed motor oil be causing the problem?

Probably not. Most probable cause: Loose or wet fan belt.

2.) The car was stolen once and recovered with a broken ignition lock. Almost any key will start the car now and the key can be removed with the engine running. I wonder if the steering column lock was damaged when the ignition lock was broken.

If the steering column locks when the key is turned to the OFF position and removed, it is not damaged. But it's still no protection if any key will release it.

3.) Also once or twice the starter engaged while the car was running.

Probably defective detents in the ignition switch (not the key lock).

Good luck.

Rodan.

Reply to
Rodan

Yep, Buy a new PS pump,lines, and rack. The additives in the oil probably damaged the seals and valving in the pump and rack.

Also replace the lock cylinder so it works like it should. And she shouldn't drive the car if it is doing this. It's a good way to end up dead.

Reply to
Steve W.

_____________________ Not to mention at least a front-end alignmnent - after the rack is replaced. Though for a car of that vintage a 4wh-thrust angle would be best.

-ChrisCoaster

Reply to
ChrisCoaster

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