Any ideas what is wrong?

[icee20]

Hi guys and gals, I have a question. I have a 96 Pathfinder and recently my steering has been acting up. there is huge dead spot right in the center of my turning radius, so when I go between right and left or vise versa, I have to turn alot more then it should. When in the dead spot the wheels do not move as far as I know just when I get to the edge of the dead spot. Any info is great, just would like an idea what is wrong before I take it in to the mechanic when my tax return comes in.

Thank you for the help

[Towncivilian]

Checked the fluid level yet? What's its condition - is it brown or black, or smelling burnt?

[icee20]

it is a light brown and smells a little burnt but I don't know what is actually supposed to smell like

[Towncivilian]

It's not supposed to be brown or burnt smelling. Buy a quart of synthetic ATF that meets Dexron III specification and a turkey baster and suck out some old fluid and pour the new fluid in; do this with a few miles of driving in between until you're out of the quart. This should change most of the fluid.

[icee20]

but would bad fluid cause the dead spot in my turning radius?

[Towncivilian]

Not sure, but old dirty fluid is bad regardless. Fluid is the cheapest thing to try.

[icee20]

Quick update: took it in to get it looked at..the problem was that my bushings were blown out that were holding the rack @ pinion...got it fixed...still working on changing fluid....thanx for the help