Q: My 1996 Crown Victoria (90,000 miles) has begun to drip fluid on the left front side. It appears to be power steering fluid, but I could not find the source of the leak. Everything I saw looked dry. Also, I have noticed a kind of straining sound when I am turning the steering wheel. Clearly something is wrong. What do I tell the mechanic? I am female, and I like to be informed whenever I visit a mechanic.-- M.R., e-mail

A: M.R., start by telling the mechanic exactly what you told me. It's likely that the leak is power steering fluid because you mentioned there's a straining sound when you turn the steering wheel. That's a sound you usually hear when the power steering system is low on fluid, or when there's a problem with the belt or pump. Your car could have a leaky power steering hose, leaky power steering shaft seal, or a leaky sector shaft seal at the bottom of the steering gearbox. If the power steering pump seal is leaking, the entire pump will need to be replaced. But if either the hose or sector shaft seal are leaking, they can be replaced and are relatively cheap compared to the cost of replacing the pump.

Q: I own a 2002 GMC Envoy. It has a rear view mirror with a compass and temperature display. The problem is that the temperature displayed is about 10-degrees off from the actual temperature. The compass works fine, though. Is there any way that I can reset the temperature display myself, or do I have to take it to the dealer? -- K.K., e-mail

A: K.K., there's nothing to reset for the temperature display. There could be something wrong with the ambient air temperature sensor (located in the engine compartment), or there could be unwanted resistance in the circuit, such as a poor electrical connection. At any rate, you'll need to take your Envoy in for a proper diagnosis.

Q: I would like to know the reason behind the larger wheels on new cars. They look like something out of the 1920s. Aren't the tires on these large wheels more prone to damage? I would like your comments. -- R.A., Chicago

A: R.A., you ask a very good question. First of all, large fancy wheels add to a vehicle's exterior styling. Large wheels are "bling" for your ride. By the way, at last year's Chicago Auto Show, I spotted 35-inch wheels/tires on display. That's roughly twice the size that the factory installs on many of today's sedans.

You're right, over the years, wheels have gotten larger. Larger wheels, along with larger tires, enhance the vehicle's ride and handling. More rubber between your car and the road equates to better traction. To accommodate a larger wheel size, the tire's sidewall height (known as aspect ratio) is decreased. This means there will be less sidewall flexing and shock absorption by the tire. That improves the handling aspects of a vehicle. But, as you mentioned, it also means that hitting a severe pothole could lead to tire and/or wheel damage.

Questions for Ira Siegel? Call the Auto Adviser Hotline at 708-633-6839 or e-mail Autoadvisr@aol.comAutoAdviser: Ira Siegel is an Automotive Instructor and ASE Certified Master Auto Technician.