Is this totally wrong?

[Danglerb]

Wife's Continental lost power steering last night. Light comes on the dash saying check steering assist, stink of burning plastic under the hood, and steering effort goes through the roof. Belt looks good, no drips under the car, so I figure the internal seals have gone in the pump and it needs to be replaced.

Things wrong with her car rise instantly to the top of my fix it list, but I have already set up times to meet two different people Friday to buy some tools. Is it totally wrong of me to drop her car with a shop while I go buy more tools?

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Tell her you had to order the parts and they will be in on the truck Saturday morning.

 

[supertooljunkie]

Tell her your are buying the parts and realized you needed the tools to finish the job.

 

[Danglerb]

Tell her you had to order the parts and they will be in on the truck Saturday morning.

May turn out to be the truth, since nobody seems to actually stock parts anymore.

 

[airdale]

I think it sounds fine, you said yourself "drop her car with a shop" so at least it's getting taken care of. Of course my opinion means squat - does she think it's o.k? Or did she need transportation for Friday? Maybe you can drop her off on your way to get tools? Good luck!

 

[caper]

What year is this car?The burning plastic smell may be the module controlling the variable assist power steering "letting the smoke out".Possible actuator failure.What does the fluid look like?Burnt?Could be several causes to this problem.

 

[s_morrison57]

Buy the tools then buy the parts needed, then rent the tools to the wife so she can fix it herself. You get some money back on the tool purchase and she gets to learn how to work on her car. It's a win-win situation IMO

 

[Mickey O]

You made appointments, you keep them, the car can wait.

 

[chadster1]

Buy the tools then buy the parts needed, then rent the tools to the wife so she can fix it herself. You get some money back on the tool purchase and she gets to learn how to work on her car. It's a win-win situation IMO

Your not married are you?

 

[engineboy]

Its called multi tasking.....you did nothing wrong. The car is getting fixed and you are getting tools, its a win win.

If this is a newer style remote reservoir system I would guess that the pump might have locked up, the belt burnt for a split second on the stopped pulley (causing the smell) and the shaft snapped on the pump. It will still look fine, the pulley goes round and round and doesnt leak. Just doesnt pump.....makes it triple as hard to turn the car.

I have seen this on many occasions. Please, leave us with the result as far as what failed, us retired techs like to keep in the loop.

 

[s_morrison57]

chadster1
yes I am married but we have a deal, she gets the upstairs level of the house the 10 year old gets the lower level and I get the garage, I have enclosed parking for 5 and she has to park outside, that bugs her when its raining, but I did buy her an umbrella and my cars are worth more than hers. Poor girl thought she was getting a new kitchen but I bought an older Porshe instead, she had 2 choices, get over it or die mad. It is true, I wear the pants in my family. I wrench my cars but we send hers to the dealer, mine are fun to work on her new civic does nothing for me.

 

[sasquach]

chadster1
yes I am married but we have a deal, she gets the upstairs level of the house the 10 year old gets the lower level and I get the garage, I have enclosed parking for 5 and she has to park outside, that bugs her when its raining, but I did buy her an umbrella and my cars are worth more than hers. Poor girl thought she was getting a new kitchen but I bought an older Porshe instead, she had 2 choices, get over it or die mad. It is true, I wear the pants in my family. I wrench my cars but we send hers to the dealer, mine are fun to work on her new civic does nothing for me.

WOW I bet she is thankful for marrying you . You are such a catch .

 

[tatra]

what, he's happy and her car gets fixed by professionals............as fir the kitchen, chances are she would want a new one come the next gotta have fad comes around..........good for you wearing the pants........course sometimes you do have to meet them halfway...........

 

[Mike83]

If I wore my pants like that they would never come off nor would hers. I'll take a comprimise on most stuff.

 

[Danglerb]

Car is a 1999 Lincoln Continental, ugh its sure smells like bad capacitor, and the steering so far has been intermittent.I first noticed a slight smell a couple days ago, but couldn't be sure it was from her car. Next day she drove it to dinner, and after to the store, with the check steering assist coming on as she was leaving the store parking lot. Drove with extra effort a few blocks to Sears where I peered under the hood smelling a lot of the smell and seeing nothing wrong. It drove home after me looking at it with lots of smell, but no more smoke, lights, or hard steering. Does kind of sound like a module. What do you think?

BTW Didn't fix her car yet, morning window of time poofed, afternoon appointments ran on til after NAPA was closed.

Wow, I was sitting here thinking I could sure use a better manual than a stupid factory repair CD I bought off ebay, and then I remembered, I bought the two phone book sized dealer manuals and have them around here someplace. Sheesh, going hunting for them.

 

[engineboy]

Well with it being intermittent, its not what I described.

Good luck.

 

[Stick Figure]

i'm just trying to figure out how someone could sleep at night having a car at their house that they didn't fix themselves. That's one of the biggest things that keeps from ever wanting a newer car w/ warranty. Then i might have to let someone else work on it at some point.

 

[Danglerb]

Found my "real Ford dealer manuals", first step hook up the STARS, run steering diagnostic. Yup that was a great help. Got to the replacement part, lift the car, remove AC compressor ... Dropping it off on Monday. Her car, she wants her mechanic, couple more days with three of us in the Mustang and I will be in real trouble, time to cut my losses and stay healthy.