Power Steering Problem--HELP!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,197
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From: lafayette co
Power Steering Problem--HELP!
Noticed a little whining from under the hood when turning the wheel this weekend. Next morning, went to add some power steering fluid, and the reservoir was completly empty 
Look on the floor of my garage, and sure enough, there is all of the fluid.
What could cause it to totally drain overnight?
Filled it back up, and took a spin around the block to see if I could find where is was leaking from. Pulled back into the garage, look under the car, and a ton of fluid was dripping down. Can't see from where
Any ideas of where to start would be greatly appreciated!!!
Look on the floor of my garage, and sure enough, there is all of the fluid.
What could cause it to totally drain overnight?
Filled it back up, and took a spin around the block to see if I could find where is was leaking from. Pulled back into the garage, look under the car, and a ton of fluid was dripping down. Can't see from where
Any ideas of where to start would be greatly appreciated!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,295
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From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Fix it now! 
You do not want the kind of mess I had/still have on my 92 from a leaking power steering pump.
Anyhoo the power steering setup on these cars in 3 places uses rubber pipe and hoseclamps
Most likley, one of those has sprung a leak.
You're going to have to remove a bunch of the front engine accessories to see all this stuff.
You do not want the kind of mess I had/still have on my 92 from a leaking power steering pump.Anyhoo the power steering setup on these cars in 3 places uses rubber pipe and hoseclamps
Most likley, one of those has sprung a leak. You're going to have to remove a bunch of the front engine accessories to see all this stuff.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Had the same problem, but without the major leak. I put a bottle of Lucas Power Steering conditioner in and all is well for now.
I do plan on changing my pump when I have more time(want to do the heater core first).
I started to change the pump last summer, but I gave up after not being able to easily remove the hoses coming from the resevoir to the pump.
I do plan on changing my pump when I have more time(want to do the heater core first).
I started to change the pump last summer, but I gave up after not being able to easily remove the hoses coming from the resevoir to the pump.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 393
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
With it leaking that much I would say it's probably a hose-clamp. There are hose clamps on the line from the rack to the cooler, from the cooler to the reservoir, and from the reservoir to the pump. Look at all these fittings and see what’s wet.
The other prime spot for leaks is where the high pressure hose comes out of the pump. The power steering pump is below the alternator and has a large diameter pulley. You can see the fitting for the high pressure hose on the top-drivers side of the pump body just behind the pulley. Since the fluid comes out of this leak at high pressure the fitting area may look very clean.
You can also see the fittings on the rack easily from the top of the engine bay. You can actually see most of the PS system without removing anything, just jack the car up to check the cooler fittings.
Good luck.
Jason
The other prime spot for leaks is where the high pressure hose comes out of the pump. The power steering pump is below the alternator and has a large diameter pulley. You can see the fitting for the high pressure hose on the top-drivers side of the pump body just behind the pulley. Since the fluid comes out of this leak at high pressure the fitting area may look very clean.
You can also see the fittings on the rack easily from the top of the engine bay. You can actually see most of the PS system without removing anything, just jack the car up to check the cooler fittings.
Good luck.
Jason
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
Dang Dave! Sorry to hear this! I just spent 6-8 hours fighting with my power steering pump over the weekend because of the same exact problem! I replaced the rubber hose ends and all of the clamps and drove it to work this morning - it's leaking all over the place again!
The pump itself didn't have any signs of a leak and it sure looked like the one clamp was the problem but since I've eliminated that I don't know what its problem is now.
BTW - the pump is a pain in the azz to pull out and mess with! You have to pull the alternator and AC pump (makes it somewhat easier) and then you have to fight with the hard line that goes in the top and then the tube runs under the crank pulley to the reservoir and of course that is attached to the block with 2 bolts that are hard to get to. The hose clamps are a mother to easily gain access to and then you have to fight the clamps and make sure they are pointing the right way when you put it back in or else they will rub the one pulley....
The pump itself didn't have any signs of a leak and it sure looked like the one clamp was the problem but since I've eliminated that I don't know what its problem is now.
BTW - the pump is a pain in the azz to pull out and mess with! You have to pull the alternator and AC pump (makes it somewhat easier) and then you have to fight with the hard line that goes in the top and then the tube runs under the crank pulley to the reservoir and of course that is attached to the block with 2 bolts that are hard to get to. The hose clamps are a mother to easily gain access to and then you have to fight the clamps and make sure they are pointing the right way when you put it back in or else they will rub the one pulley....
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,197
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From: lafayette co
Originally Posted by Timmy!
Dang Dave! Sorry to hear this! I just spent 6-8 hours fighting with my power steering pump over the weekend because of the same exact problem!
So when should I bring mine by so you can fix it...since you are already an expert and all!
I don't know if I have time to do all of this stuff.
I need it fixed by Friday for Club Clash. I ended up ordering BFG's so hopefully I will have some better times, but this car is pissing me off.
If it's not one thing, it's another. And if it's not that, it is something else!
Thanks for the good info guys. I'm going to check the clamps when I get home. Hopefully it is nothing major. The car only has 30K on the clock, but it sat for a long time. So maybe one of the hoses/clamps just went bad.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
Originally Posted by boulderlt4
I'm going to check the clamps when I get home. Hopefully it is nothing major. The car only has 30K on the clock, but it sat for a long time. So maybe one of the hoses/clamps just went bad.
Good Luck!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
Dave - I just found my problem. I bought a bottle of that UV Dye and put it in my power steering system and then drove around the block and got out the black light. You could see it leaking around the hard line that goes directly into the pump, apparently I don't have the hard line nut tight enough or the line isn't seated in there or something.
It would make sense that it could come loose from moving it around while doing a head/cam swap or anything else that involves moving that pump around with the line still in it. Just a thought - hopefully yours is a similar problem!
It would make sense that it could come loose from moving it around while doing a head/cam swap or anything else that involves moving that pump around with the line still in it. Just a thought - hopefully yours is a similar problem!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,197
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From: lafayette co
Timmy- I love the ingenuity!! 
Are you going to be up and ready for Club Clash.
Mine was the pressure line. Pete has the hook in pretty deep, and I have a pretty busy week, so I let him take care of it.
F'ing stupid cars!!
Hopefully they will be able to track the part down today.
Are you going to be up and ready for Club Clash.
Mine was the pressure line. Pete has the hook in pretty deep, and I have a pretty busy week, so I let him take care of it.
F'ing stupid cars!!
Hopefully they will be able to track the part down today.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
Well I wasn't able to fix mine after all. Looks like the rubber seal is bad on the high pressure hard line that goes into the pump. Don't know if I have to replace the whole line or if I can find the seal.
I won't be at Club Clash this week - going to Lake Havasu for the weekend.
I won't be at Club Clash this week - going to Lake Havasu for the weekend.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 0
From: lafayette co
Originally Posted by Timmy!
Well I wasn't able to fix mine after all. Looks like the rubber seal is bad on the high pressure hard line that goes into the pump. Don't know if I have to replace the whole line or if I can find the seal.
I won't be at Club Clash this week - going to Lake Havasu for the weekend.
I won't be at Club Clash this week - going to Lake Havasu for the weekend.
Have a great trip and a nice holiday!
Wish me luck with the whole traction thing. The BFGs are coming tomorrow!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
Originally Posted by boulderlt4
Wish me luck with the whole traction thing. The BFGs are coming tomorrow!!
Sweet! Hopefully you make it to the track! Run like 16-18 psi in those things and you should be good to go! Check the drag racing section on here and I think people will tell you what psi has worked best.Good Luck!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 393
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
Originally Posted by Timmy!
Well I wasn't able to fix mine after all. Looks like the rubber seal is bad on the high pressure hard line that goes into the pump. Don't know if I have to replace the whole line or if I can find the seal.
I won't be at Club Clash this week - going to Lake Havasu for the weekend.
I won't be at Club Clash this week - going to Lake Havasu for the weekend.
Jason
