149000 miles on my 97 Avalon....

[sarp1028]

And it just made it cross country! Los angeles to Orlando. A week prior made it from kansas to LA. Granted I needed to replace the starter when i got to orlando.... and something is wrong with my power steering....... but. it made it. Up to New Jersey next week.

[PhatRoyale]

Cool.

Those first gen Avys are tanks.

[The Digital MagE]

power steering fluid gets old and nobody ever thinks to change it.

there's a thing... like a suction bulb with a hose on it - available at autozone, etc.

suck the reservoir dry. replace with new fluid. drive a day.

repeat until the fluid that comes out (it doesn't hold very much!) looks just like the new stuff that goes in. that will take 7 - 10 days. you'll use about a quart of power steering fluid. i'd start now, before seriuos truoble sets in.

[84Cressida]

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

Cool.

Those first gen Avys are tanks.

Agreed. Aside from replacing the steering rack a few months ago, my '98 hasn't had any issues mechanically in the 12 years we've had it. I just wish my black paint job had held up better in the CA sun.

[sarp1028]

Well... whatever the problem is, drying the resevoir is no problem. Power steering fluid is dripping quickly from the left side of the car. Emptys a resevoir in about an hour. Any ideas?

[golfinator]

If it's emptying on the driver's side, it's probably the rack & pinion leaking and needs to be replaced.

[Jigg007]

I had power steering leaking issues, before changing the pump, i drained all the fluid out by cracking open the lowest line to the rack. Then I filled it all the way with Lucas power steering stop leak, and to this day, 2 years later I have no problems. I didnt even have to change the pump!

Hell, it could be a simple as a loose hose, a lot of rattling happens cross county!