Hello. I have a 1992 Toyota Celica GT. I took it to les schwab the other day to get it checked out, my steering wasn't working as it usually does. They told me that i had an oil leak that had gotten all over my belts (So passenger side..) and that could be why my steering was different. I don't know where this leak came from...my car has been making funny noises lately as well. I would like to get a second opinion on this? And what should i do if i do have an oil leak? what is most likely the problem? recently i have replaced the alternator, tires rotated, oil & filter change, and as recently as 5,000 miles had the timing belt and all other belts replaced. i think my valves need adjusted? that could be why it makes a rattling sound? oh and to help anyone who is curious..yes, my steering stutters, it doesn't want me to steer. and my power steering fluid is good.
You took your car to Les Schwab because? Because your power steering wasn't working, or because you saw pools of oil under your car? Did Les tell you exactly where the leak was originating from?
Assuming it was only because your power steering wasn't working, have you ever noticed any pools of fluid under your car (like in your garage, driveway, or parking lot)?
If you have oil that got onto all your drive belts, then you should have noticed oil under the car after it has been parked too.
If you aren't very mechanically inclined, yes, you should take it to a mechanic to get a 2nd opinion. On your particular engine, I don't have a good idea on how engine oil could get all over your drive belts. I can easily understand how power steering fluid could get there. Get a 2nd opinion and let us know what the verdict is.
You took your car to Les Schwab because? Because your power steering wasn't working, or because you saw pools of oil under your car? Did Les tell you exactly where the leak was originating from?
Assuming it was only because your power steering wasn't working, have you ever noticed any pools of fluid under your car (like in your garage, driveway, or parking lot)?
If you have oil that got onto all your drive belts, then you should have noticed oil under the car after it has been parked too.
If you aren't very mechanically inclined, yes, you should take it to a mechanic to get a 2nd opinion. On your particular engine, I don't have a good idea on how engine oil could get all over your drive belts. I can easily understand how power steering fluid could get there. Get a 2nd opinion and let us know what the verdict is.
I took my car to les schwab because my car was not wanting to steer much. wanted to know why it was doing this, i was confused because my power steering fluid is full. I know some about my car, but oil leaks are something i have never dealt with. He said there was oil all over the belts and that the belts were affecting my steering. Then he went ahead and rotated my tires at the same time. Very nice of him, but he didn't have the "mechanical knowledge" to tell me where the oil leak could be coming from. And no, there is no oil underneath the car after being parked anywhere...so...that's why i was confused about the oil leak. I think I will have another mechanic look at it. Lets hope something works!
And if you have an oil leak, take a look underneath and try to find the highest point in which you see oil, this should be your leak
It is very hard for me to describe, you would kind of have to know how it drove before and how its driving now to understand the difference but i will try my best...basically i have to press on the gas to get my wheels to actually turn the way i need them to turn, and its like delayed. funny noises refers to the screeching sound it makes when i turn my steering wheel...and then my car also rattles a little bit, i think that has something to do with the valves and they might need adjusted (or even replaced). I'm with ya on the poor thing, unfortunately the only part that i have not yet placed in my car is my catalytic converter...other then that i have a fuel pump with some life and a broken tail light. sorry!
It's unlikely that an oil leak would not show puddles under the car, yet be bad enough to coat the pwr steering belt enough for it to "screech", or slip. There are a whole bunch of oil seals and gaskets on that side of the engine (passenger), and they're right in front of the pwr steering pump--but even when they gush oil, it doesn't generally end-up on the belts.
It could be:
1) Oil pump o-ring, gear seal, or oil pump body gasket;
2) front crankshaft seal;
3) cam shaft seals;
4) oil pan gasket;
5) least likely: valve cover gasket.
I've replaced almost all of those within the past year, and even though I was losing about two quarts of oil a day by the time I replaced them they had no effect on the power steering pump operation. The oil didn't spray the pump or belt(s) at all.
Time for a second opinion, from a real mechanic who can get it up on a lift and inspect while the engine is running. Good luck, I empathize with the "poor" thing...I don't like doing all this stuff myself!
PS: My top end (valve train) rattles a bit too, when I start it up. But it's not getting worse...so I'm leaving it alone. It's a big job, and expensive if you have to pay a mechanic...
--Tim
__________________ 1990 5spd V6 Camry (Still kicking at 393,000km) 1991 Celica GTS -- Pappa needs a 3SGTE...and AWD for all this friggin' snow
Honda my A$$, you just can't kill a Yota...
It's unlikely that an oil leak would not show puddles under the car, yet be bad enough to coat the pwr steering belt enough for it to "screech", or slip. There are a whole bunch of oil seals and gaskets on that side of the engine (passenger), and they're right in front of the pwr steering pump--but even when they gush oil, it doesn't generally end-up on the belts.
It could be:
1) Oil pump o-ring, gear seal, or oil pump body gasket;
2) front crankshaft seal;
3) cam shaft seals;
4) oil pan gasket;
5) least likely: valve cover gasket.
I've replaced almost all of those within the past year, and even though I was losing about two quarts of oil a day by the time I replaced them they had no effect on the power steering pump operation. The oil didn't spray the pump or belt(s) at all.
Time for a second opinion, from a real mechanic who can get it up on a lift and inspect while the engine is running. Good luck, I empathize with the "poor" thing...I don't like doing all this stuff myself!
PS: My top end (valve train) rattles a bit too, when I start it up. But it's not getting worse...so I'm leaving it alone. It's a big job, and expensive if you have to pay a mechanic...
--Tim
Well, of course there is light leakage from fluids on my driveway, but nothing like puddles. Nothing that would say, hey your oil is everywhere clean it up or do something about it. Thanks for the help : ) All great things to know. Yeah, i have never taken my car into a shop for anything before...les schwab was the first time..i feel that shops try to tell you something is wrong with your car when its really not, just to make money. but in this case, they don't even specialize in that so..they weren't benefiting. Anyway, i've actually heard that the valves themselves were kind of spendy but the work was easy? Maybe i'm wrong! But, if something needs done, this is my only form of transportation so i'm going to have to work with it! Goodluck with yours!
First, you seem concerned about "valves". Are you referring to the intake and exhaust valves in the cylinder head? If so, these have nothing to do with the problem you took your GT to a mechanic to check on, which is steering. These valves also have nothing to do with what the mechanic told you, that being oil on the drive belts causing the power steering pump to slip. The valve train on a 2.2L 5S-FE engine (what you should have on a GT model) are a bit noisy, compared to other Toyota engines, in normal operation. Most times, as solid lifter engines wear, the primary problem starts happening when the valve train noise decreases or goes away (because the valve seating surface tends to wear faster than the cam lobs or lifter shims, so clearances decrease and noise starts going away). It's rare that your clearances would be increasing with engine wear, which would cause more valve train noise. If you are referring to another kind of valve problem that concerns you, what valves are you thinking of?
Second, if your drive belts had a lot of oil on them, the belt that drives your alternator (at the top of the engine) would be flinging this oil up and around the underside of the hood, directly above the alternator. You may have a sound deadening pad on the underside of the hood. Is there a lot of oil sprayed on the underside of the hood, directly above the alternator? If the entire underside of the hood is dry, then you don't have oil on your drive belts. But if this area is wet with oil, then something is going on, and you should show a mechanic or a Toyota dealership shop what you have so they can help identify what is going on.
Can you take a picture of the drive belt area of your engine and post it on this site?
Last edited by 93celicaconv; 02-02-2010 at 10:52 AM.
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1990 5spd V6 Camry (Still kicking at 393,000km) 1991 Celica GTS -- Pappa needs a 3SGTE...and AWD for all this friggin' snow
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