FC Power Steering Leak
08-29-13, 11:29 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Houston
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FC Power Steering Leak
I am going to try to provide as much back story for such a simple problem as I can. I will have cliff notes for those of you who don't want to hear me babble on as well.
CLIFF NOTES
-I have a power steering leak
-I don't know where it is leaking from
-Over time it has made that area of my engine bay extremely filthy
-The power steering still works
-High pressure hose looked like the culprit, but seems to not be now
-Bottom of the actual reservoir looks wet
-Would appreciate help sourcing the leak if possible
Now down to the knitty-gritty. For a while I thought I had a leaky pan gasket and that I was seeing oil on the garage floor. This was until the other night when I heard my power steering pump whining when I tried to turn the wheel from a dead stop. The leak I have is rather slow, but like any problem I want it fixed. I got home and checked the reservoir and found that it was almost empty (no wonder the pump was whining). Rather then just top it off I started looking for the leak. Seeing as how the high pressure hose looked rather wet on the outer foam part. Suspecting a pinhole in the hose I cut off the foam (hope that isn't bad) and started scanning for a hole. No dice, so I did the same for the smaller hose. Again, no hole. I began searching through anything connected to the power steering pump (that was visible from above the engine) for signs of any leaking, but since that area of the engine bay is so covered in filth it is quite hard to point to one thing or another. The only thing that looks slightly fishy is that the bottom of the reservoir looks rather wet (as did the high pressure hose which is right next to it). I would like to assume that the reservoir itself hasn't started leaking, but I won't rule it out as a possibility. Again, I only felt around and looked at what was reachable from above. My power steering still works, but I have not filled the system with more fluid because I don't want it to just leak out before I find the problem. Also if I end up having to replace a hose, more perfectly good fluid will just be spilled out. I am not running it this way though. This issue coupled with my need for a rebuild/replacement for my alternator, and possibly a new BAC valve have brought me to the decision of garaging the car until I sort it all out. New reservoir and hoses seem pretty cheap, but it is never a good idea to go on a buying spree of parts I don't need. I have tried to include numerous camera angles in my pictures to help, but with how cramped and dirty it is, it'll probably still be hard to tell. Still, any help is appreciated as my knowledge of these cars is still quite limited. On to the pictures!
Above the hoses. You can see how dirty it is below, and somewhat see the wetness on the side of the reservoir.
Side of the reservoir looks very dirty. Better view of the bottom being wet.
Metal portion of the high pressure hose right where it meets the bushing that holds both hoses together looks a bit wet as well.
Not as good of an angle as I thought it would be, but both hoses look quite good. No signs of brittleness or wear to note. Just a little wetness on middle area of the high pressure hose. (Not pictured unfortunatly)
Any inputs are greatly appreciated. Would deeply enjoy being able to stop spending money on repairs, and being able to afford the fun stuff. I.E: new suspension, wheels, exhaust, etc. Please help me get her back on the road!
CLIFF NOTES
-I have a power steering leak
-I don't know where it is leaking from
-Over time it has made that area of my engine bay extremely filthy
-The power steering still works
-High pressure hose looked like the culprit, but seems to not be now
-Bottom of the actual reservoir looks wet
-Would appreciate help sourcing the leak if possible
Now down to the knitty-gritty. For a while I thought I had a leaky pan gasket and that I was seeing oil on the garage floor. This was until the other night when I heard my power steering pump whining when I tried to turn the wheel from a dead stop. The leak I have is rather slow, but like any problem I want it fixed. I got home and checked the reservoir and found that it was almost empty (no wonder the pump was whining). Rather then just top it off I started looking for the leak. Seeing as how the high pressure hose looked rather wet on the outer foam part. Suspecting a pinhole in the hose I cut off the foam (hope that isn't bad) and started scanning for a hole. No dice, so I did the same for the smaller hose. Again, no hole. I began searching through anything connected to the power steering pump (that was visible from above the engine) for signs of any leaking, but since that area of the engine bay is so covered in filth it is quite hard to point to one thing or another. The only thing that looks slightly fishy is that the bottom of the reservoir looks rather wet (as did the high pressure hose which is right next to it). I would like to assume that the reservoir itself hasn't started leaking, but I won't rule it out as a possibility. Again, I only felt around and looked at what was reachable from above. My power steering still works, but I have not filled the system with more fluid because I don't want it to just leak out before I find the problem. Also if I end up having to replace a hose, more perfectly good fluid will just be spilled out. I am not running it this way though. This issue coupled with my need for a rebuild/replacement for my alternator, and possibly a new BAC valve have brought me to the decision of garaging the car until I sort it all out. New reservoir and hoses seem pretty cheap, but it is never a good idea to go on a buying spree of parts I don't need. I have tried to include numerous camera angles in my pictures to help, but with how cramped and dirty it is, it'll probably still be hard to tell. Still, any help is appreciated as my knowledge of these cars is still quite limited. On to the pictures!
Above the hoses. You can see how dirty it is below, and somewhat see the wetness on the side of the reservoir.
Side of the reservoir looks very dirty. Better view of the bottom being wet.
Metal portion of the high pressure hose right where it meets the bushing that holds both hoses together looks a bit wet as well.
Not as good of an angle as I thought it would be, but both hoses look quite good. No signs of brittleness or wear to note. Just a little wetness on middle area of the high pressure hose. (Not pictured unfortunatly)
Any inputs are greatly appreciated. Would deeply enjoy being able to stop spending money on repairs, and being able to afford the fun stuff. I.E: new suspension, wheels, exhaust, etc. Please help me get her back on the road!
08-30-13, 04:37 PM
#2
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Houston
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So it turns out I'm back to square one in a sense. Jacked the car up today to get a view of things from below, and it just so happens that I was right in assuming it was oil under the car. Right as I crawled under to inspect everything I witnessed a drip of oil fall from the bottom of the pan to the floor. Thankfully it seems the oil is dripping from the pan, so a new pan gasket or drain plug washer should do the trick. This however does not eliminate the fact that I have a power steering leak still. (unfortunately) I do know now though that the leak is slow enough to not accumulate and drip to the floor. The oil leak is also rather slow and shouldn't be a bother before it comes time for my next oil change. Considering just topping it off with power steering fluid and dealing with it for how since this weeks spending is probably going to have to go towards a new alternator. I changed out the disgusting and very heavily corroded battery terminal connectors and noticed that the connector for the ground was very loose. Gonna go start the car and let it get warmed up and see if that solves my low voltage issue (guessing it didn't, but maybe its my lucky day)
08-30-13, 07:22 PM
#3
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Houston
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Topped off the fluid, and since I'm such a genius I decided I'd go ahead and overflow the reservoir and spill power steering everywhere. That way everything is covered in power steering fluid thus making it near impossible to find my leak. Also just to see how much oil I am leaking I checked when I backed out.
Oil from a week of being garaged is to the right of my foot, power steering fluid I spilled is to the left.
I did however take it for a drive and the steering is much lighter. However my idle issue is still around. It never dies out on me, but under high electrical load (headlights/air conditioning/braking) it drops a bit (down to 350-400ish then back up). Thinking either BAC valve or new alternator time. Possibly a TPS adjustment? Maybe somebody can help me out with that too. Made a video of it, but it is refusing to upload. Basically just showing the idle changes as I turn the lights and A/C on then step on the brake. Noticeably lower then with everything off and brakes not depressed.
Maybe a moderator should change my thread title to "Pick a fluid, my car leaks it".
Oil from a week of being garaged is to the right of my foot, power steering fluid I spilled is to the left.
I did however take it for a drive and the steering is much lighter. However my idle issue is still around. It never dies out on me, but under high electrical load (headlights/air conditioning/braking) it drops a bit (down to 350-400ish then back up). Thinking either BAC valve or new alternator time. Possibly a TPS adjustment? Maybe somebody can help me out with that too. Made a video of it, but it is refusing to upload. Basically just showing the idle changes as I turn the lights and A/C on then step on the brake. Noticeably lower then with everything off and brakes not depressed.
Maybe a moderator should change my thread title to "Pick a fluid, my car leaks it".
08-31-13, 05:04 AM
#4
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Buy some degreaser and clean everything down,Once its clean keep an eye on where the leak is coming from.If you overflowed your power steer reservoir its got way too much in there.The lid has a dipstick like an oil dipstick with minimum and maximum markings on it.
09-01-13, 01:00 PM
#5
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Houston
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great idea. I will probably get to that today. Hope I have some degreaser somewhere in the garage. Gonna Take my BAC valve off too and see how it is internally since it looks ugly and has orange gunk around one of the connecting hoses.
09-01-13, 03:19 PM
#6
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Houston
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Got under the hood and took my intake off to inspect the BAC valve only to discover that the little hose connected to my air pressure sensor was not connected to the metal fitting. Hooked that hose back up and WOW! What a difference. Car hasn't idled this smooth in all of my ownership. Now if I can just get these leaks sorted out I'll be a happy camper. So glad this "repair" didn't cost me anything.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Skeese
Adaptronic Engine Mgmt - AUS
65
03-28-17 03:30 PM
