This was posted over 18 years ago; my opinions, thoughts, attitude, and writing style may have evolved since then, and this post might have been different if it were to be posted today.
parts & labor for a new power steering pump: $860!!
🙁 🙁 🙁
eta: … + diagnostic fee + surcharges + tax + etc = $1038.24!!! apparently it had a short and fried up (just as i suspected).