1998 Camry approaching 250 000 kms

Could a dying battery be imparing the power steering? It's been less and less effective for about a month. When I just start the car up it's okay but after 10-20 minutes of city driving it kind of loses power.

Also, my rpm indicator is a little shaky when the car is idling. It idles around 300-400 rpms, little vibration in the engine but it doesn't look/sound/feels like it's going to stall.

Anything I should be checking?

Clean the Idle, and EGR valves.

If the powersteering problem doesn't go away with a smooth running engine, I would replace the belt, AND powersteering fluid.


A great write-up on how to change it is here (http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t19334.html).

That's probably gonna sound pretty stupid, but how do you get the new stuff in? I fully understand the connecting part and everything, but when it starts pumping and coming out in the bucket do you just pour it in the reservoir at the same time while being extra-careful not to let air in, all the while turning the steering wheel left and right with your right foot and holding the other tube between your teeth to chew it when you need the liquid to stop circulating or what?

Can someone elaborate on the TIMING of it all because it looks wicked and potentially vicious.

Just keep the res filled up so air doesn't get in while it's comming out.

When you see pretty red fluid come out, you're done!

Thanks I plan on trying that this weekend.

Update : I noticed today that when I turn the steering wheel to it's limits, wich I don't do normally, I hear a really brief and dry "Pshh!" sound, like opening a bottle of soda or something. Exactly when the steering wheel hits the limit. I can tell it wasn't doing that before.

Leaking power steering hose? The level of fluid doesn't seem like it's going down. Maybe the pump?