I know I haven't been here for a while but I need your help guys.

My power steering has intermitent problems where it just kind of quits working making steering very difficult. I am used to driving with one hand and letting the steering wheel go back to its straight position after a turn but now it just gets stuck. I checked the fluid and it is in the reservoir but its brown and smells a bit like burned oil. Am I looking at changing the fluid or am I fcuked?

Has anyone expirience similar problems? If so what was the outcome, cost, parts, etc.

It's an 04 with about 86K miles

 

I just joined this site today,
I have the same problem with my power steering and my car is in the shop.
First of all, my car has 141 thousand miles on her and the power steering joint has to be replaced, the cost to me at the dealership is $280.

 

Wow so many replies I don't know where to start. Seems to me guys at NYCMaximas are just a tighter crowd.

For those poor souls who wonder and will expirience this same problem it is the steering shaft that gets all rusty. Part is $148 at the dealer.

 

Don't be so cynical, 3 days nobody helped. Just means no one that's read the thread had an answer. Thanks for sharing your findings, I'm sure it will help others down the road.

 

I would have guessed the pump... see! No help isn't always a bad thing! lol

 

^^^ LOL, you might be right

 

With my 06 when I hit 40k I just started the turkey baster method every 5-10k of changing the PS fluid, I don't like how every car manufacture has suddenly removed the PS fluid from the recommended maintenance, combined with brake fluid, used cars with original PS and brake fluid are on my list to avoid

I'm not a poor soul, their is a reason why you take your car in for service, they grease that part, either pay upfront or create a problem and pay to fix something, somehow it all evens out

 

^^^ Well, It the above was directed at me ...


I didn't even know the fluid is supposed to be changed. I don't remember ever reading that. I stay on top of my maintenance but just wasn't aware of this fluid. The only thing I always checked is whether it's low. I just picked up 2 bottle of PS fluid along with antifreeze and will be doing the remove-replace-circulate-remove-replace method this weekend on both.

 

172k miles, never changed it lol. although be careful if it goes out, it could get bad

 

i think his statement is very relevant to your point. brake fluid and steering fluids aren't really mentioned for someone like you or myself that follows the manual.

btw don't we just use ATF for the power steering? I plan to turkey baster out all my PS fluid and replace with Mobil ATF soon. at 64k now. possibly also due for a brake fluid change. last time had the dealer do it since my shop said the anti-lock brakes were best done there... man i hate having them do work.

 

For some reason, Nissan & Toyota have decided to remove it from the preventative maintenance list, several other things have been removed as well, but it really catches people off guard when your car/truck with 100k trouble free miles on it, is taken into the dealer and they come back and quote you some crazy price to replace something that could have other wise been somewhat avoided, but still a PS service at the dealer is like 200 bucks, and the PS system is sensative so just do the Turkey baster method every 10-15k and that will save that motor, vacuum, expensive part, as for the joint/knuckle, I thought that had a heavy duty rubber boot on it, seems a little weird that such a vital part would be open to the elements like that.

I went over this with several dealers, and the 6th Gen takes PS Fluid, I usually just bought the little bottle of Valvoline Synpower Blend PS fluid in autozone and suck out what was in the reservoir, and then poured in the 8 ounces.

Some Nissans do take ATF but not the 6th Gen, I made 100% sure what was needed and used PS Fluid

 

Yes, the 6th gen uses its own Power Steering fluid. $4.79 per 8 ounces at your dealer if you don't have any discounts.

and

Yes, there is not rubber boot so the part is totaly exposed to elements. Even though it originally comes prepainted to aid in corrosion resistance we all know that if you expose anything to water, especially in "salt" states it won't be long before you get into the trouble zone.

 

awesome info thanks

oh btw how much can you get out with the baster? or about how many 8oz bottles are needed?

 

not much. you have to do it every two day or so to make sure the fluid is running through the system. i used 2 bottles to be safe. use the baster to drain the reservoir, then put fresh fluid in. repeat for a couple of days or so and you'll be solid.

 

Your welcome, you suck out whats in the top container/reservoir and you put in exactly one bottle, fills it right up

 

Thats over kill, I've done it and I would only suggest, R&R every oil changed or every other oil change once you have done it for 2 or 3 oil changes, I have no idea how much fluid the system holds but I've done it every other oil change, the bottles I bought in autozone where at most 5 bucks, that is nothing compared to what the dealer wants for a PS service.

Thats just my opinion and recommendation, and from what I've done I like to hear other opinions and recommendations as well, thats what makes this a great place

 

what bottles at autozone? so i assume you bought a PS fluid other than Nissan? I didnt even see any at advanced today. since the turkey baster might not hold the fluid or reach far enough, I got a $5 syphon handpump there today.

Man, I have all these Mobil 1 ATF bottles laying around in the garage I was going to use. I'd even consider using one of my extra K-Matic bottles stacked there. But guess I'll stop by Nissan for their PS unless it's more than $5. Only seeing Valvoline Synthetic SynPower PS Fluid online besides Amsoil, Redline, and RP that make Syn PS fluids none of which I am interested in

would have looked harder if I thought of Valvoline syn PS did it today. was waiting to call Nissan tomorrow.

 

The dealers I spoke with said just buy PS fluid, all the PS fluid in the autoparts store has the stop squeaks additive, I just ended up buying the little 8ounce bottle, any PS fluid will be fine, but who knows if they make it anymore, I don't know if you can get past the screen in the bottom of the reservoir, but the turkey baster works