2000 Avalon Power Steering Problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Aggie · 03-06-2009, 07:39 PM

Hi

This is my 1st post....... bought our Avalon new in 2000........ now 250,000 km later.......

Great car from day one..... lately starting to show it's age.

Suddenly today the steering got real hard and sluggish...... no apparent oil leaks...... full of oil.

Any suggestions would be helpful

Cheers

***new echo owner*** · 03-07-2009, 01:04 AM

Have you check the belt tension? Does the condition changes with increase in rpm?

N.E.O.

DaiFai · 03-07-2009, 04:03 AM

Check your steering shaft universial joints.

Aggie · 03-07-2009, 06:29 PM

NOE : No I have not checked belt tension..........there is no new belt noise. Yes I did test with increased RPM....... made no difference

DaiFai : Interesting....... good suggestion........I will have this checked out.......... about one year ago, I did have to replace steering shaft universal joint...... this was different feeling..... power steering was normal except when turning corner steering would not return to center without extra effort on the steering wheel..... kind of a clunk....... of course the knuckle was worn out and loose.

Thanks for the suggestions..........any other thoughts

***-SCWEET1-*** · 03-08-2009, 11:55 AM

Good Luck & Welcome

***new echo owner*** · 03-09-2009, 10:02 PM

Sounds like you may be having problem with the control valve in the steering rack.

N.E.O.

Aggie · 03-10-2009, 05:45 PM

N.E.O.

I have appointment at Toyota dealer tomorrow for consultation

Strange thing......after 1st noticing this condition, the problem seems to come and go on a day to day basis.

See what Toyota has to say..............

Will keep you posted

Aggie