weird steering pop.......now with added problems

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:50 am

Bad ignition switch? Steering lock?

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:56 am

like i go to turn the key and the key wont move forward.
key will not budge, even with my pythons (arms) working their hardest....

the lights work though, so the battery is connected and electricity if flowing....just dont get why the key wont move and the car wont start.

oh, whats steering lock evolution?
my wheels are turned all the way to the left if thats what that means.
moved them with brute force to jimmy with that tie bar

internetautomart · Post by **internetautomart** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:05 am

SubaruNation wrote:like i go to turn the key and the key wont move forward.
key will not budge, even with my pythons (arms) working their hardest....
the lights work though, so the battery is connected and electricity if flowing....just dont get why the key wont move and the car wont start.

<snip>

old key with worn teeth will do that.
that reminds me I need to throw out that key.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:24 am

Steering lock locks the wheel in position if you turn the wheel. If that's the problem, turning the wheel a little will release it and allow you to turn the key.

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:18 am

the wheel as in the steering wheel right?
because i tried moving the wheels without using the steering wheel and they wont move back into position, whatsoever.

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:39 am

yeah that worked wonders. i thought it was the "wheels" that i had to move back into position, not the steering "wheel"

ugh... to the mechanic tomorrow then

Arctic Assassian · Post by **Arctic Assassian** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:58 am

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:00 am

Arctic Assassian wrote:wow.

thanks for the input captain perfection!

if only we were all as helpful and thought oriented as you are...

like this response for example....

Arctic Assassian wrote:power steering rack take a crap? Check your powersteering resivior and tell me how much fuild is in it.

last time i checked cars don't have orifices or intestines for that matter

Arctic Assassian · Post by **Arctic Assassian** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:57 am

LOL. Well, I guess I got a little spoiled working in a shop environment, and all my friends are at least as litterate as I am when it comes to cars. I'm surprised you've never encountered the steering lock before.

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:09 pm

ok so update.
took it to da shop and they said $605 to replace the whole rack.
mother....

both inner tie rods also.

coould this be beause of the ps fluid in the power steering pump? son of a walrus, i doubdt i could do it myself but i wish i could so i didn't have to fork out six franklins on the dirty.

so much for an intercooler!

SO Gey.... whatever

the new name of my car from now on is money pit.

and arctic assasin,
i know more about cars than anyone in my house. my parents dont know anything what so ever, only my uncle does so i have some exposure but i learn the most on here b/c i cant be in my uncles shop as much as i would like to

you're lucky. i wish cars came to me as easy as computers/software and technology do.

internetautomart · Post by **internetautomart** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:32 pm

most racks come with inner tie rods

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:52 pm

Do the rack yourself for less than 1/2. There are two brackets to remove that hold it to the front underside of the crossmember. I'd recommend getting some Whiteline bushings to replace for the rack while you're there. You will probably have to spray the hell out of the bolts with at least some PB Blaster to make sure you don't snap a bolt - they're not very big so they can't take a lot of torque. You will have to approximate the alignment yourself when you adjust the tie rods, but it's not rocket science - just get the wheels approximately centered by measuring (or using string) on the front and backs of the tires to make sure they're the same distance apart. Then you'll have to drive somewhere for an alignment, but you're talking about saving hundreds of dollars.

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:00 am

[s0b story]
the guy hasn't done it yet but i think i'm just going to let him do it and bite the bullet this time.
when i changed a power steering line myself it to awhile b/c i wasn't used to working on the car.
i think i should stick to the basic stuff for right now, not quite sure if thats what I think but due to unforseen parental mind control powers and threats involving my car not being allowed in the garage again to work on myself.... i'm going to let them do it.

hopefully i'll have enough cash left to finish my new hood scoop.

[/sob story]

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:20 am

There's only one way to learn. There are some things you shouldn't try to do yourself (like synchronize the distributors on an old Ferrari V12), but worst case on this is that you have to tow it to a mechanic. See if he'll let you check it out on the lift so you can get an idea of what's going on with how it all works. It's all pretty simple when you see what connects to what and how they interact. I was told a dozen times how an engine worked when I was young, but it made no sense to me until I actually saw one as a moving cutaway. Then I felt like an idiot for not getting it sooner.

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:11 am

yeah, im more worried that the mechanic said that it was going to be a tough job.
this could be a ploy but we've been bringing our cars to this guy forever so i kinda believe him what he says.

i'm a victim of mind control

i hate decisions like this. saving 300 would be nice but theres all the control factors i have to put up with.

eff

thanks for the help though evolution, you kick ass!

Post by **Legacy777** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:58 pm

It's not that hard. You loosen the bolt holding the rack onto steering column. Some have pins....mine didn't, or fell out. Next loosen the PS lines from the rack....they will pee all over the place. Remove the bolts holding the tie rods onto the spindle. Use a pickle fork to remove the tie rods, put a jack under the rack, loosen the bolts holding the clamps to the sub-frame, and lower the rack. That's all there is to it.

Yes the above is simplified, but it's not that difficult.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:40 pm

I like to use plastic hose clamps (look like plastic pliers with blades for the jaws) to keep fluid from pissing all over. They're cheap and don't damage lines (especially old ones) like small vice grips.

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:47 am

just a recommendation to anybody who reads this wondering about why their steering wheel wont turn a certain direction, find out what it is and fix it yourself.
ugh... works like a champ now anyway though.
i ended up needing an entirely new power steering rack and pinion... and tie bars.
and power steering fluid

so yeah..

Arctic Assassian · Post by **Arctic Assassian** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:37 pm

So did someone else do it... or did you man up and git er dun?

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:58 pm

to spare you all the details (most of them are on this thread)
i didn't have time or the resources to do it myself, and my parents had some very pushy opinions about me doing it myself. gey, really gey.
i needed to drive my car as part of my job (hopefully for not much longer

) so when i found out all that was wrong and what needed to be done exactly, i couldn't have all the parts i needed in my hands until way too late. so yeah, i paid the mechanic.
last time i'm doing that unless its something really huge.

Arctic Assassian · Post by **Arctic Assassian** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 12:37 am

Glad its fixed at least.

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:14 am

yes sir, me too

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weird steering pop.......now with added problems