Thanks so much for that quick response, Jeff!

If I'm understanding you correctly, in the event I do have to have a
new power steering pump:  Even if order the $85 part I found online,
it's still going  to cost me betw $400-$500 to have the job done due to
labor.

I'm planning to take the car to my regular mechanic this week for a
second opinion as to whether I really need a new pump. My earlier
estimate was from a shop that I had never been to before, but who
was close to where I work.  Convenience is probably never a good
reason to try out a new shop, I know......  Anyway, I want to do a little
homework before I really get serious about scheduling the job, just so I
can make sure I don't get ripped off, even by my regular mechanic.  

That just seems like an awful lot of money to shell out, especially when
I feel like the car functions perfectly fine, other than the loud howling
it makes for a while after you start it up, after it has sat for several
hours in the cold.  So I haven't even really made up my mind whether it's
worth it.  

What's the worst that can happen if the pump goes out entirely?
Is my life in danger, or will I just have to tug a lot harder at the steering

wheel?

Thanks again for your help.

Well, they are charging you about 50% more for the part (1/4 of $500 is
$125) than you can get elsewhere. It is probably about $100 per hour for
labor, with bleeding the system after the pump is changed, that's around
3 or 4 hours, which doesn't seem unreasonable.

You should also check with local shops and see what they want for the
job. Changing a power steering pump isn't rocket physics. There's no
need for a dealer to the work. In fact, I would get a second opinion
from them to make sure it is a power steering pump problem before
getting the work done.

Have you checked to make sure there is enough fluid in the system?

Jeff

I took my car to the shop because it was making a terrible whining sound when
I turn the steering wheel when it first cranks up, especially in cold weather.
I was told that I need a new Power Steering Pump, and they quoted me a total
price of about $495.00.  They explained that the part is only about 1/4 of
the cost, the rest is labor.  I've found a part online for a total of about
$85.00.  How much should the labor be?  Is my shop trying to rip me off?  I
have a 2003 Honda Accord (4-door sedan, 6-cyl).

Thanks in advance!