Air conditioning and power steering problems - Uni student

[DeltaFalcon]

G'day guys,
Sorry if this has been posted before or if it's a newbie question or something along those lines but I'm using the excuse that I have no idea what to look for nor how to phrase my questions correctly for the most effective answer.

Anyway, I would like to know what exactly is wrong with my poor Commodore and just how much it is going to cost to get fixed. As the title suggests, I don't have that much money to throw around unfortunately, though it'll need to get fixed: I have an eight hundred kilometre round trip from home to university.

The first quirk with the 'dore is that of the air conditioning. I did look through the thread stuck on this forum about air conditioning but it didn't seem to fit the problem I'm having. The air conditioning works, it just doesn't change vents like it's supposed to when you turn the knob. It's just stuck on the foot vent.
Would this be a control panel thing? I spoke to Pop and he said that the entire console would need to be taken out to fix it...

The second problem I'm having is that the power steering "groans" when I turn and accelerate while turning. I gather this is not a good sound to have. I have done a little reading and some have suggested that it'd be the power steering pump or racks (as my (Ford Falcon fan) friend suggested). I don't know.

How much would it be to have the muffler replaced as it's begun to separate from the "middle" chamber, the joint facing the rear of the car? I've also been a naughty car owner and let the service slip past 10,000km so that's another <insert however much it's going to cost me here> towards it.

Then again, it's essentially my only way of getting home...

Thanks for your help guys, I really appreciate it.

[vpcommo]

have u checked the power steering fluid level? if there isnt much power steering fluid this may cause the groaning otherwise it probably would be the power steering pump.

as for the muffler, i just had my muffler replaced for $135

[dbarnes]

Yeah if you havent checked fluids and **** for 10,000 k's then what the bloke above said is the obvious starting point..

[Reaper]

G'day guys,
Sorry if this has been posted before or if it's a newbie question or something along those lines but I'm using the excuse that I have no idea what to look for nor how to phrase my questions correctly for the most effective answer.

Anyway, I would like to know what exactly is wrong with my poor Commodore and just how much it is going to cost to get fixed. As the title suggests, I don't have that much money to throw around unfortunately, though it'll need to get fixed: I have an eight hundred kilometre round trip from home to university.

The first quirk with the 'dore is that of the air conditioning. I did look through the thread stuck on this forum about air conditioning but it didn't seem to fit the problem I'm having. The air conditioning works, it just doesn't change vents like it's supposed to when you turn the knob. It's just stuck on the foot vent.
Would this be a control panel thing? I spoke to Pop and he said that the entire console would need to be taken out to fix it...

The vents etc are controlled by vaccum and there is probably a leak somewhere. They can be a pain to track down but it could be as simple as a hose that has slipped off it's stork.

The second problem I'm having is that the power steering "groans" when I turn and accelerate while turning. I gather this is not a good sound to have. I have done a little reading and some have suggested that it'd be the power steering pump or racks (as my (Ford Falcon fan) friend suggested). I don't know.

How much would it be to have the muffler replaced as it's begun to separate from the "middle" chamber, the joint facing the rear of the car? I've also been a naughty car owner and let the service slip past 10,000km so that's another <insert however much it's going to cost me here> towards it.

Open the top of the ps pump and check the fluid level. Does it leak??? You may need to top it up with ps/auto fluid. You can buy it from any servo. You may need to take it to a mechanic to fix any leaks.

Reaper

[cander24]

The fan system on a vr to go between floor, face, screen etc is operated by vacuum so its probably one of two things. Either one of the vacuum hoses has come loose at the back of the switch which you will easily be able to see if you remove all of the radio surround and look at the back of it otherwise its probably one of the plastic doors that open/close air passages depending on where the dial is set has broken its hinge and is now stuck. And a new muffler would be around $140 fitted. As for the steering noises, as above id be checking the power steering reservoir bottle is full to the correct level and if its fine your pump may be on the way out.

[levymetal]

how loud is your groan? holdens are notorious for groaning, both v6 and v8 pumps. i fitted a reco pump, still groans. if it's loud and it shudders then you're probably missing fluid, or your pump is really stuffed. pump is REALLY easy to replace yourself, $40 for the pump from wreckers.

do you know if you have IRS or not? i have a non irs exhaust that should fit your car, it's off a vp. you can have it for $20 if you live near mornington peninsula. again easy to fit yourself.

[Cheap6]

The fan system on a vr to go between floor, face, screen etc is operated by vacuum so its probably one of two things. Either one of the vacuum hoses has come loose at the back of the switch which you will easily be able to see if you remove all of the radio surround and look at the back of it otherwise its probably one of the plastic doors that open/close air passages depending on where the dial is set has broken its hinge and is now stuck.

For a couple of more places to look for the vent control vacuum leak. The vacuum line runs from behind the dash to under the bonnet and connects to the engine, at the back. The hose for that has a (usually white) plastic one way valve in it which sometimes fails. There is also a 'T' piece near it and the hose continues down to behind the left hand front of the bumper bar, to a black plastic sphere which acts as a vacuum reservoir. That sphere can also leak.

[hako]

A bloke older and smarter than me told an easy way to find vacuum leaks behind the dashboard - locate the vacuum hose where it goes thru the bulkhead and detach from the white plastic one-way valve, then get an assistant to gently blow into the hose whilst you have your head under the dash listening for the noise as the air leaks from the hose. Before you do this you should suck on the hose - if you can keep sucking there is a leak - if you cannot suck then the leak is not under the dash but elsewhere.
Good Luck.

[DeltaFalcon]

Many thanks for the assistance guys.

Figured out why the power steering was groaning, and it was largely my fault. See, I didn't know that power steering needed fluid, so that got a nice big drink.

Thanks for the offer Levymetal, though I'm in Bathurst, quite a way away from there.

I'll have the air conditioning checked out when I book her in for a service which is going to be very very soon.

Once again, thanks for your assistance.