Does this replacemnet cost sound reasonable?

[vinbon63]

Hi everyone, I searched for a thread that would answer my question but I found nothing so...my question is, I had to have my power steering pump inspected because I noticed it has been leaking little by little, and making that whining sound every once in a while, until i top up the power steering fluid. so the inspection came back from toyota saying that the pump is leaking and its recommended that I replace it. The replacement cost is going to be $600 (I am in Canada, so thats CAD), does this sound reasonable to you guys, and or, do you have any suggestions of another route I may take? Thanks for your help! oh and by the way it is a '97 camry ce v6. thanks.
-Vince

[dc_98_cam]

Power Steering Pump

[toyomoho]

If you don’t have the money just keep the fluid topped off, if the pump dies you can still drive the car (remove or cut the belt off). Sounds like the pump is OK except for the leak. Might be just the seal where the drive shaft comes out of the housing if so the part is under $6.00US plus labor to remove and repair the pump..

Is the new pump Toyota OEM, this would mean a higher part price? You can buy a rebuilt pump for around $160-200US, so you can do the math on labor costs.

[vinbon63]

wow, ok thanks for the feedback! I agree, I think that it really is ok except for the leak, because whenevr i top it up it is ok and by the next time I have to top it up, several weeks will go by, so it seems that it is a really slow leak.

[Tecumseh]

Maybe Prestone Power Steering Fluid + Stop Leak could help. Look here
http://www.prestone.com/products/functionalFluids.php

[Kep]

Read the owners manual but I believe that we're supposed to use Dexron III for the power steering system. If that's the case for yours then they also sell Dexron III with stop leak additives that may help.

Kep

[marc780]

I have to differ with another poster - i would NEVEr drive a car with non-functional power steering...
anyway, the power steering pump is not hard to change yourself. If you can change the belt you probably have the ability to change the pump too.

You could take a chance on a pick-a-part junkyard if they have those in your area (although maybe it is not the season to be wrenching outside up there in the great white north).
A new one from napaonline lists for $209 (this price assumes $100 core. Last time i checked the canadian dollar/american ditto exhange rate was very close to 1:1).