Hi Car Talk,
I’m driving a 2000 Chevy S-10 pickup, 5 spd manual, with about 133k miles on. Truck has been great for the 11 years I’ve owned it.
I’ve had this problem for a while, and for some reason am only getting around to it now, as I’ve never directly asked a mechanic to fix it or diagnose it. I think because it didn’t seem urgent, and out of fear I’ll get the runaround on what it actually is.
But now, what was once just a sort of “groaning sound” when I turned the wheel, has now actually turned into some tightness in the wheel itself – especially if the car is cold or hasn’t moved in a while. Here’s a video clip of the sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP3MBjFoyo0 (link is safe, I promise)
I suspect it’s a problem with the power steering fluid system. I’ve been parallel parking for years, and don’t know if that’s what’s had an impact.
Before I go to a mechanic, does anyone have an idea of what something like this might be and also what I might need to expect to pay?
Thanks very much for any insight.