way to go jeff.  the op is already getting ripped off.  and now you're
panicking them into getting ripped off harder.  nice move.

No, don't do it that way.

You don't go to a local butcher, get a good steak, and bring it to your
local restaurant and ask them to cook it, do you?

If you get your own power steering pump, and two days after it is
installed it dies, guess what? Your out of luck. You have to pay again
to have the pump replaced. In addition, the garage charges more for the
part than they pay. If you remove the profit from this, they will get
the profit elsewhere.

I don't know how much it will cost you to get the pump replaced.
However, you're regular mechanic can tell you.

It could be just a belt. Again, consult your mechanic. And check the
fluid level.

Yes, having to tug a lot harder when you have to make a sudden turn is
life-threatening.

jeff

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!