Can fixing a leaking power-steering pump be a metaphor for life? Well, yes, in the sense that small improvements lead to bigger changes overall. I recently experienced that triumphant feeling of accomplishment when I replaced a leaking power-steering pump on Project Jake, my 1993 GMC Sierra. Since buying it from Jeff Smith about six months ago, the slowly leaking pump had gotten worse, leaving a sizeable puddle of power-steering fluid under the front of the engine anywhere I parked it.
Two weeks ago, I finally had time to replace the pump. As an aside, how frustrating is it dealing with rebuilt parts from the local auto-parts store? It seems as though a third of the parts you buy don’t work right. That was the case with the first pump I installed—no assist at all, just a hissing noise when you turn the steering wheel, and I installed the pump and bled the system correctly. An early morning trip to the parts store the next day yielded a properly functioning pump, and by the time I was done, I was an expert at removing and pressing on the pump pulley. The good news is that the leak is gone. The old pump’s bearings were bad, too, so the pump was louder than the engine while running down the road. So not only is the leak gone but I don’t have to listen to power-steering pump everywhere I go, too. I don’t know why, but I was extremely happy with this situation.
Sometimes, it’s the little improvements are the most satisfying. In a car, an engine upgrade or driveline change can bring drastic improvements in your car’s performance, but the experience can be marred by something small—like a fluid leak, tire vibration, worn-out weatherstripping—basically anything that detracts from the experience. Fixing the small stuff makes everything better.
So can fixing a leaking power-steering pump be taken as a metaphor for improving your life? Yes, in the sense that fixing cars is a lot like fixing other problems. Cars are made up of intertwined systems, where a failure in one system can manifest itself in another area of the car. Problems can seem overwhelming. Anyone who’s had to diagnose and repair bad electrical grounds can attest to this. When facing adversities or seemingly insurmountable problems in your life, start with the small stuff. Even the tallest mountain can only be climbed one step at a time.
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