I am encountering a problem when I make left turns. The steering wheel will first move about a 1/4 turn and then it'* like hitting a wall. Almost like someone in the passenger seat reached over and grabbed the wheel. I can break the hold by turning harder with boths hands until the wheel completes another 1/4 turn and does it again. It only does this when I turn the wheel to the left and I can hear what seems to be the linkage immediately under the dashboard clanking when I break the hold. It seems as if something is getting stuck somewhere under there. Anyway, it turns to the right just fine but it has been noticeably stiffer since the problem occurred. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated..

If you can, raise the car so both front wheels are off the ground. Turn key to on position(eng off) and turn wheel left and right. Does it still do it? What about when the engine is on? I'm suspecting your rack or your PS pump is not providing the pressure needed.

Thanks for the info. I will try and conduct this experiment and report the results.

Well... the same thing keeps happening even with the engine off. When I turn it to the point where it stops, then go back and forth, I can feel it "catching" on something. The noise sounds as if it is in the dashboard or just on the other side of the firewall in the steering linkage. Strange however, that it does not do this when I turn to the right. I guess this rules out the power steering pump since it does it with the engine off. Any suggestions?

it might be the rack going

I'm not too schooled on the rack and pinion stuff. I assume there are seperate racks for the right and left? What kinda damage ($$) would I be looking at to replace both sides (ballpark figure) if indeed this is the problem?

There is only on rack, and it'* possble that is your problem from your description. Another possibility is that it could be your strut bearings. They generally don't catch as hard as you're describing, though. If you have a helper, have them turn the while you watch the bolt at the top of the strut, under the hood, after removing the black cap. Does it move and then release about at the same time, or stay steady? Or look in the wheel well, and watch the spring while doing the same thing.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. I have had a clanking, creaking and popping noise coming from the driver'* side suspension area for quite some time now. I figured it was struts or shocks but gave it no attention. Only recently has the steering been giving me the problem. Could both of these problems be related? I hear no such noises from the passenger side area. Just a thought.

Yes, it is possible that the two problems are related.