Up In Smoke

Or rather car repairs.
 
Going on a seven hour drive this weekend (one way). Had a flat tire on Tuesday. Took the car into the shop and also noticed that another tire was having side issues (gouges of some sort) so a $10 repair turned into the decision to just get all new tires. Had to leave it over night as they needed to get my tires today.
 
Was called by the shop today. Rack and pinion system was leaking. Sure enough, went over at lunch to confirm. Didn't want to risk the drive based on what I saw. The car is 12 years old and this is its first major repair.
 
Oh did I mention that I am getting a tax refund? Ya.
 
Conclusion: Can anyone guess how much the total bill was (in relation to the tax refund)? The title should say it all.

Prosperity ends, nullified in smoke.

You probably already had the steering fixed, but it could have been a scam.
In 1978 I was driving my '68 Firebird from NC to CA. I stopped in Lordsburg, NM for gas at a Texaco station and used their facilities after filling up.
When I came out, one of their mechanics was looking under my car and I asked him what he was looking at. He said my shocks were leaking and had to be replaced. I looked, and sure enough there was oil on 2, or 3 of the shocks and dripping onto the ground.
I called my dad, whose Texaco credit card I was using, and he said if they were bad, go ahead and use the CC to get them changed.
About $200 later I was on the road again.
A few weeks later on 60 Minutes, they had an expose on this exact scam. While out-of-towners were away from the car, the mechanics would spray oil on some part of the car and when the driver came back, they would say it has to be fixed or else.
If you haven't had it repaired yet, get a second opinion, unless it's a mechanic you know and trust.