2 new questions

[2pontiacs]

I do have two new questions though.

Has anyone encountered hard starts? I find that I get the odd whif of fuel when there is a hard start. I just did a tune up this summer. Could this be related to the intake gasket?

Also, I have been having hard spots in my steering. I noticed the fluid level was down recently, and now after I have refilled, there are hard spots and a deep whining noise at nine o'clock, three o'clock and six o'clock. Any ideas?