Help those of you who know cars. As my dad got out of the car today

[applegrove]

to go to a store a man stopped him and told him his car sounded like it was low on ***** (my dad slammed the car door before I could hear what it was that was missing liquid I assume). I had just been to the garage and filled up on windsheild wiper fluid and the oil was checked so it is neither of those.

Any ideas? Does anyone know of a noise that could be caused by missing *****.

Thanks.

[rurallib]

1. Power steering fluid? If fluid is low the unit will squeal

[applegrove]

2. Thanks. Where do you get it changed? Do I have to go to the Toyota dealership or can my local

garage change the fluid?

[flvegan]

3. You don't really change it. You add to it.

Find your owner's manual (or seek it online) and research where the reservoir is on the car. Will take 10 seconds to rectify. If that's what it is.

Being low on brake fluid can make an odd, intermittent "grinding" noise, but you'd know all about that by now if that was the case. You know...the car not stopping well and all.

[applegrove]

4. If it is my brakes where do I get the brake fluid? Toyota dealership or garage. I've

taken over driving from my parents and have never done this before.

You've been a great help.

[flvegan]

5. If it is the brakes, you can buy fluid from any auto parts store

or Target/Costco...even the 7-11 will carry it. Same with power steering fluid. Seriously though, find your owner's manual (or download it) and find where your particular reservoirs are and how to check and fill them. It's really quite easy.

If you're not comfortable doing this sort of maintenance, please take the car to a garage to do it for you for safety's sake.

[applegrove]

8. Thanks.

[MicaelS]

6. If your brake fluid was low...

Odds are the brake light or ABS light on the dashboard, or both on some cars would light up. But check the fluid level anyway.

As flvegan stated the power steering unit would squeal, usually when turning the steering wheel 90 degrees or more. Power steering units do not consume fluid during normal operation. If the fluid level is low, you have a leak. It's not much, most units only hold a couple of quarts. It's very hard to find a leak yourself without putting the car up on a lift. But be warned, repairing a power steering system can be very expensive.

Checking Car Power Steering Fluid

http://www.ehow.com/video_2326792_checking-car-power-steering-fluid.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_108_check-power-steering.html

[applegrove]

9. Thanks.

[david13]

7. Brake fluid or power steering fluid, you get it cheapest at the

generic, on the street or in the strip mall auto parts store.
However, if you are low, your brakes may be shot, and that needs repair, to keep the car safe, and to keep from making the repair far more costly.
On power steering fluid, if it is low, you will have a leak. That should be fixed also to save major repair expenses.
dc

[applegrove]

10. Thanks.

[Kali]

11. park on a clean sidewalk or driveway and check for drips

(or you can put a piece of cardboard under the vehicle)
most likely to make a noticeable sound would be power steering fluid - easy to check, read owner's manual under the "maintenance" section or wander into an Auto Zone and ask for help - they will sometimes go out to your car and check stuff. If the car is under some kind of guarantee, dealer - otherwise find a reliable independent mechanic - ask friends and neighbors. Click and Clack at cartalk.com have a mechanic recommend section - see if there is anything for your area.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/

[applegrove]

12. thanks.

[Mopar151]

13. Power steering noise can be low fluid

Which is usually accompanied by a whining noise -Or a drive belt that slips/squeals when a load is put on the pump. And some P/S pumps are noisy even when full and healthy - like Fords with the plastic reservior.
I would reccomend that you refill the unit with Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak if it is low. This stuff WORKS - stops leaks by conditioning seals, quiets noisy pumps, and takes the "shudder" out of overstressed power racks (Like the Mustang rack in my race car, or Ford Explorers)

[Kali]

15. oooh, thanks

got a big old ford van that could use some magic juice - noisy son of a gun!

[Mopar151]

17. My friend the service manager calls it "chemotherapy"

It is usually worth trying 'chemo" before major surgery.

[applegrove]

19. Thanks

[jobycom]

14. Can you hear anything? A light, fast tapping, or a squeal, or a grind?

Sit in the car with the windows down. Turn the steering wheel hard to either side and listen for a whine or grinding--that would be power steering fluid. Mush your brakes to the floor while you are sitting and listen for a humming or whining--low brake fluid. Let the car idle and listen for a light, fast (but still distinct) tapping under the hood--that would be oil, and that would be bad. Shut off immediately if you hear that, and check the oil. If the oil is very low, fill it up and see if it goes away. If it does, then it's nothing. If it taps until the engine warms up, it's probably okay. If it keeps tapping, take it somewhere.

If you don't hear anything, drive it with the windows down, slow at first, and listen for a whine or a grind. That could be transmission fluid. You'd have to be really low or have a really clogged filter to hear it, but it's possible. You should take it somewhere to have that checked, or just tell them to change the fluid and filter--it can be a little more complicated than oil or brake or steering fluid.

I'm assuming the sound came while your father was driving in the parking lot, so it would be there at low speeds or idling, or turning into a spot.

If no dash lights are on, and you don't hear anything, maybe the guy was crazy, or didn't know what he was talking about. :)

And don't get crazy listening for phantoms. If you don't hear something pretty clearly, don't strain. Cars make lots of noises, and you'll hear whines, whistles, clicks, grinds, or anything else you listen for. This should be a sound you can clearly hear over the engine. If you doubt you heard it, you probably didn't. Except the tapping, but even that is pretty clearly not supposed to be there.

[Kali]

16. good post!

hard to put all that in words sometimes (at least for me):thumbsup:

[applegrove]

18. Yes thanks. Great post.