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Finally got confirmation that the steering pump is the source of the noise problems under the hood of my '98 Prizm. How much would a replacement of the pump cost approximately? I am thinking the pump alone may go for nearly $300 because it is a Chevy Prizm and the prices for their parts are astronomical ( I had a few parts replaced on the car already and boy are they expensive) and I find that mechanics do not even bother to check to see if the Toyota Corolla part would fit in the car. So far, I thinking I got ripped by going with a Prizm due to repair costs vs. going with a similar Corolla. Anyway, I am convinced I will drive this car until the wheels come off of it now.
In my experience, the mechanical stuff is interchangeable with a Toyota Corolla.
Body parts are a different story...headlights, taillights, and some of the sheet metal...more expensive and harder to find than Corolla body parts. I guess because there are way fewer Prizms than Corollas...
To keep an older car from costing more to keep going than its really worth you have several options. Find a good used pump at a salvage yard and put it on yourself or get one from a discount parts store. If you need to hire a mechanic check around for the name of one that your friends use. Dealers are set up to service mainly new cars and those under warranty .All jobs are priced the same.
What Chief said. The boneyard is the old car guy's friend.
*Most* power steering pumps are not that hard to change, although the hoses really should be loosened and re-tightened using "Flare Nut" wrenches - a good set of these, you need Metric, can be had at any Sears (Regular, US-made Craftsman).
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