my toyota camry 2000 model 4 cyl 4 door and 90000 miles, is having steering problem.At times the steering wheel becomes stiff. and becomes difficult to steer, but then automatically becomes alright. I showed at canadian tire , and their tech. checked and found nothing wrong. he just sprayed some wd 40 and it was o.k. Fluid level is o.k. no leakage. The problem is recurring.. What could be the problem and the best way to fix it?How should I deal with mechanics to minimize expenses towards repairing the car.

 

This happens typically when air temps are cold and the car has sat over night.

Might change the belt, not sure what WD-40 would do

This issue could be the belt, drity fluid and or a relief valve in the PS pump.

You might start changing out the PS fluid. Have the system flushed.

Or do it yourself. Use something to drain or suck out the PS reservoir and replace with new fluid. Drain and refill between drives, do this about 4 times and the fluid will be clean again. The PS reservoir cap has the type of fluid that should be used.

 

There is a small universal joint that connects the steering column with the input shaft on the rack and pinion. If your mechanic sprayed WD40 under the hood, he was spraying the u-joint. You may be able to fix this problem by spraying this u-joint with a penetrating oil and turning the steering wheel all the way back and forth untill the joint loostens up. You might also have to remove the joint, lock one end in a vise and move the other end with a pair of pliars or channel locks while spraying it with penetrating oil, then put it back on. You will need someone to hold the steering wheel in the proper alignment while you put the u-joint back into place.

I just did this on my 1987 camry, your camry shouldn't be that much different.

Dave H.

 

I had the same issue with my 97 Camry this past summer, and we tried a power steering flush. However, it turned out (lucky me) that it was actually an issue with a part in the steering column and it screwed up the rack and pinon...$1100 later, it worked fine...ugh! If you know anyone who does cars or know a trustworthy shop, you may want to take it in and have them check it out thoroughly, just to make sure!

 

Beadingmom17...do you know what part in the steering column screwed up the rack and pinon? I'm having the same problem but haven't flushed the steering fluid yet and will try that first then try spraying the u-joint. Will then prepare for the worst.

 

I've got a 96 Camry with the same intermittent "hard steer" problem.

First I want to give a little background... This is my third Camry (86, 96, & another 96). My last 96 had the same problem that began at around 100k miles.

First I replaced the power steering pump, and that changed nothing.

A week later I spent a weekend changing the rack-n-pinion, which changed nothing.

The auto parts gave me a new pump to try again, but it changed nothing.

Then I tried another rack, but nothing changed.

So I gave up and for weeks and sometimes months I would have perfectly fine power steering, then out nowhere it would fail.

I sold the car with 180K...

So I got a good deal on this 96 Camry and its doing the same thing, one day the PS works fine and other days it doesn't work at all.

I was talking to a mechanic and suggested that maybe its clogged internally, or a hose is failing internally which prevents the hydraulic circuit from completing itself? So that's where I'm stuck, not knowing where to start, and unwilling to change parts that didn't work from past experiences.

 

Looks like penetrating oil on the knuckle did the trick! I can't believe it was that but it's steering fine now.

 

I'm glad the oil worked for you. Lubricate it from time to time and you shouldn't have any more problems with it.

 

Finally My steering problem was solved. The toyota authorized service centre guys charged me $ 338.00 including a diagnostic fee of $138.00 and their diagnosis was a faulty UV joint which they replaced with an original part (I Presume ). I hope this information helps others. Thanks for all the feed back from Friends in this beautiful forum.

 

Thanks for getting back on the fix.

This is UV joint on the steering column?