White Smoke when Turning steering wheel? UPDATE "She's Dead JIM" no one will take her (donation)

[AnMig]

I have had a 1989 or 1990 non turbo Chrysler Le Baron Coupe for the past 2 1/2 years.

I bought it for $1600 and have put in $1600 durring the first year of ownership. Mostly from mechanics that have replaced stuff that did not need replacing. No repairs in the past 1 year.

It has been reliable and has not left me in the ditch ever. My wife refuses to drive it and has banned me from taking it anyware for repairs. (basically if it breaks down it going to the junkyard).

I of course I want to keep it as long as I can its basically a weekend, around the town car.

Everytime I maximize the steering wheel to the left or right a white plume of smoke comes out of the airconditioning and under the hood.
It does not do this when doing minor turns, only when the steering is maximized and only when the engine is hot. I do not loose powersteering fluid.


My guess is I have a powersteering leak that sprays fluid into the hot engine block. I have been using it fine but have avoided turning the steering too much.


Anybody have any Ideas or advice? is this going to be a major repair or a simple do it yourself hose change?

Any car sites that answers mechanic questions like these.


Help me save this car

peace

 

[43st]

You can try Allexperts.com, I've found them helpful for basic stuff.

About the white smoke... that's odd. Can you pinpoint the place where the smoke comes out if you're wife (or third party ) holds the steering wheel while you examine the engine area?

 

[AnMig]

"Can you pinpoint the place where the smoke comes out if you're wife (or third party ) holds the steering wheel while you examine the engine area? "

its comming from the left side and appears to be emanating from the manifold or engine block itself.

My wife will not have anything to do with it since that small grease fire which has never returned after cleaning the engine block.

Will try that link out.

 

[morkinva]

It could be a misaligned steering belt, I dunno

 

[thomsbrain]

um, this is way out there and i really don't know what i'm talking about but maybe you've got a CV boot that's cracks squirts some oil up that gets burned? but i guess that would burn black...

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
um, this is way out there and i really don't know what i'm talking about but maybe you've got a CV boot that's cracks squirts some oil up that gets burned? but i guess that would burn black...

CV joint wouldn't squirt. And a CV joint would clunk when the grease was gone. My best guess, and I emphasize guess, is that the steering rack is leaking when it is turned all the way, spraying PS fluid on something hot (likely the exaust, which runs under the engine IIRC). Just a tip, but with PS you're not supposed to hold the steering at maximum angle for more than 10-15 seconds at a time, longer than that can cause damage to the PS system.

ZV

 

[UltraQuiet]

Are your tires rubbing?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer
Are your tires rubbing?

That would have to be a helluva lot of rubbing, and he'd need to be moving pretty fast. I'm guessing that this is occuring at parking lot speeds and that the tires wouldn't be spinning fast enough to smoke from rubbing.

ZV

 

[AnMig]

"Are your tires rubbing? "

I only notice it if I am going slow and even when I am on a dead stop, as long as the engine is warm.

I tried to see where the smoke is comming from but best guess would be the manifold.


"steering rack is leaking "

this would be my guess too, although I dont know where this is . I figured something was spraying fluid on the engine block.

Its pretty dramatic no smoke one second then as soon as I maximize the steering FIIIREEE. It sort of reminds me of throwing water on a hot skillet

 

[UltraQuiet]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer
Are your tires rubbing?

That would have to be a helluva lot of rubbing, and he'd need to be moving pretty fast. I'm guessing that this is occuring at parking lot speeds and that the tires wouldn't be spinning fast enough to smoke from rubbing.

ZV

I agree with you of course but I have had it happen and it is/was a possibility. Just exploring the options.

Dave

 

[jemcam]

Any kind of odor to the smoke? Oil, tranny fluid, and p/s fluid all burn bluish white. If it's pure white with little or no odor, it's steam.

It does sound like some kind of p/s leak. Can't you have someone turn the steering wheel while it's idling to see where it's coming from?

 

[ohtwell]

Sounds like a leak in your power steering hose. I've had that happen before. Not that hard to fix.

Pop the hood and have someone turn the wheel so that you can check the general location of where the leak is.


: ) Amanda

 

You have a leaking Power Steering hose or pump.
As you turn the steering wheel full lock, the pressure increases dramatically in the hydraulics causing fluid to squirt out hitting the exhaust manifold, thus turning the power steering fluid into vapor and smoke.

Now mind you this is only an assumption based on your description of the problem, without me actually being there to diagnose the problem, I cannot give you an absolute diagnostic evaluation.

Check your PS fluid.

Edit;

Ha ha, those two clowns above me beat me to it

 

[AnMig]

"Any kind of odor to the smoke? Oil, tranny fluid, and p/s fluid all burn bluish white. If it's pure white with little or no odor, it's steam.

It does sound like some kind of p/s leak. Can't you have someone turn the steering wheel while it's idling to see where it's coming from? "


come to think of it it might be bluish white (I feel like a poor eyewitness to a crime) it does smell like burning oil although not that strong .

What I am hoping for is an easy fix (not involving a mechanic) change hose here or a tighten the screw here.

thanks for input guys.

On a lighter side my friends 1 year old year 1999 jeep cherooke caught on fire 2 days ago after being in minor ditch accident a week earlier, his daughter parked beside his house and told him the car was in fire, he clouldnt put it out so they it pushed down a
hill (country side house). Trooper came in all heroic inserted a fire extinguisher inside the grill and whoosh he was momentarily covered in flames, I guess he blew the gas fumes around him, came out smiling with a few singed eyebrows saying " I guess that did not work"

 

[CraigRT]

awww my old car!!
old faithful too!
that was such a good car to me!!
brings a tear to my eye!!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Roger
Ha ha, those two clowns above me beat me to it

Oh, so I'm a clown now eh? "Clown" is a pretty accurate description though.

ZV

 

[geno]

It could be coming from the fittings on the steering rack itself. I replaced the steering rack on my car recently (it's related to your car ) and the fittings are below the intake manifold itself. Maybe the high pressure line has a hole in it? A new line is like $15-20 bucks.

Try Allpar.com, that's your best bet

BTW: if you're not sure if it's an 89/90 - where is your parking brake located? If it's foot operated, it's an 89 with the old style interior. If it's hand operated (in the center console) it's the redesigned '90 interior

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: Yield
awww my old car!!
old faithful too!
that was such a good car to me!!
brings a tear to my eye!!

didn't you have a 4 dr?

 

[AnMig]

"BTW: if you're not sure if it's an 89/90 - where is your parking brake located? If it's foot operated, it's an 89 with the old style interior. If it's hand operated (in the center console) it's the redesigned '90 interior "

it has foot pedal handbrakes so I guess its a 1989. couldnt figure it out from the door markings (erased) and I dont think it has the original hood.

I hope its a simple hose that I can replace. I guess I can try turning the steering while the engine is cold hopefully I can actually see the squirting fluid.

This car has air conditioning, heat, cruise control, and a sound system. What else does a man need from a car. It gives 28 to 30 miles to a gallon to boot.


"It could be coming from the fittings on the steering rack itself. I replaced the steering rack on my car recently "

will dig up a generic le baron manual that I bought to see
where exactly this is and see if its something I can do

thanks

 

[AnMig]

It looks like I had bigger problems than the steering wheel.

Was using her everyday 45 miles a day. Then 2 days ago she started spilling oil literally on the engine, when I got to work engine oil level was bone dry. Had to borrow 2 quarts of oil to drive her home.


I was planning on donating her but no one will take her. I have tried american cancer society,disabled american vets and some other charity. I live in a rural area about 130 miles north of minneapolis and I figure the towing alone for these charities will not make the trip worthwhile.

I will try the local highschools and if I get rejected I will have to take her to a junkyard. She probably needs a engine overhaul.

Anybody know of any charities that will take this old >10 year old car?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Most local High Schools auto shop class will be happy to take the car.

I unloaded an '84 New Yorker that was 15 years old. IT got to the point that the cost of repairs were not worth it. Manifold hole started to fry the battery.

Went by the local HS and talked to the shop teacher. Towed it up the next day and handed over the title. 3 years later the car was still there. First year they tore the car apart. Second year they rebuilt engine and tranny items in class. Third year they were putting it back together.

It is not often that they get a car that can be torn apart without reprecussions.

 

[AnMig]

Found a taker a local vocational tech school will take her.

All I have to do is put another 2-3 quarts of oil and drive her down.