Friends, I'm having a mechanic look at our 1990 GMC Suburban, as we need to take a trip in a couple of weeks from Texas to Ohio, as my mother is not doing well physically, and we need to move her to a nursing care situation where she will get care 24/7. We will need to go in the Suburban, as we will need to pull back a trailer with her belongings, as she will not have any space for her stuff where she is going.
To make a long story short, today the mechanic who is looking at the car told me that I need to replace the EGR valve, as I have been getting some intermittent check engine messages lately. This doesn't seem to affect engine performance, however, so I haven't been to anxious to get it diagnosed, but with us having to pull a trailer back to Texas, I wanted to get it diagnosed.
My question to you all is this: Is this a major hassle to do myself? I was given a quote of ~$300.00 to get it replaced, and I called up the local Advanced Auto store and was told that I could purchase the part from them for ~$82.00.
Is this something that I could simply unbolt and bolt the new one on? Any specific technique or is it located in a difficult to work on position?
I also got an estimate of $500.00 to replace the steering gear box, as it is leaking Power Steering fluid. Is there any danger if I let this go? I figure that I can purchase a boat load of Power Steering fluid for $500.00, but with pulling a trailer and all I wouldn't want it to go out on me. I plan to just monitor the PS level and carry a couple of extra quarts with me.
Thanks so much in advance for your help!
To make a long story short, today the mechanic who is looking at the car told me that I need to replace the EGR valve, as I have been getting some intermittent check engine messages lately. This doesn't seem to affect engine performance, however, so I haven't been to anxious to get it diagnosed, but with us having to pull a trailer back to Texas, I wanted to get it diagnosed.
My question to you all is this: Is this a major hassle to do myself? I was given a quote of ~$300.00 to get it replaced, and I called up the local Advanced Auto store and was told that I could purchase the part from them for ~$82.00.
Is this something that I could simply unbolt and bolt the new one on? Any specific technique or is it located in a difficult to work on position?
I also got an estimate of $500.00 to replace the steering gear box, as it is leaking Power Steering fluid. Is there any danger if I let this go? I figure that I can purchase a boat load of Power Steering fluid for $500.00, but with pulling a trailer and all I wouldn't want it to go out on me. I plan to just monitor the PS level and carry a couple of extra quarts with me.
Thanks so much in advance for your help!