01 vert has me puzzled, had the car out a week ago Sat. and after sitting for a week I went to get it out a put it in my attached garage to remove the wheels, flush the brake system, clean the wheels, check the brakes, etc. when I noticed a puddle of power steering fluid under the drivers side about 16" in diameter. I have noticed a damp spot on the concrete prior to this but never a puddle not even dime size. I pulled the car into my garage took the wheels off and no puddle after two days of sitting. The rack is wet near the shaft coupling but why would there be a puddle before a nothing now?

 

Check out the high pressure line. They tend to start leaking right through the rubber hose, but only when running.

 

Had it running yesterday no leaks, checked this morning no drips. I'm baffled how there could have been such a large puddle and now nothing. I guess I'll wait to my wheels are done put it back together and drive it.

 

Check the pump itself and as mentioned and the high pressure hose. I too, have power steering leakage and believe it's the pump itself, but since I had the car apart (and at 200k) I decided to replace everything- pump, hose and the rack. It likely has not leaked because it has sat- the PS pump is not generating hundreds (thousands?) of PSI when the car is sitting, forcing the fluid out of any leak point. You can fill the PS pump reservoir with dye and the UV light, try to pin it down that way- or just go in and replace everything like I did

 

Thanks for the replies, that's what has me puzzled like I mentioned the puddle was there after the car sat. I would think given the size of the puddle (with the car not running) I would definitely be able to see it leaking with the car running and as you said under pressure, I even sat in the car turning the wheel lock to lock. I'm going to try again tonight and let it run longer so the fluid gets good and hot.

 

I'm about to make this repair myself as my high pressure line is seeping fluid. Pull the sheathing off the hose. If it's full of fluid then you can bet that's your problem. (and this is apparently a very common thing on C5s these days)

 

Ha, I am fighting a similar problem.

Last fall a dinner plate size spot appeared under the vette. Started using cardboard under car, which is a daily driver. Nothing for three weeks, then after sitting over the weekend a 12 inch spot. Crawled under car, and the 3 inch rubber hose which connects the hardline from the steering rack to the PS cooler hardline was wet and dripping. Cleaned it off, and no more drips for another 3 weeks. Then a 16 inch spot, right under the 3 inch hose. But now winter and cold. It continued to make the spots dozens of times on and off, making a spot then going for a few weeks till the next one. I am sure it is this hose, as the high pressure hose and the return hose from the cooler to the PS reservoir are dry. And there is nothing above the cooler which can cause it to be wet.

Crawled back under 3 weeks ago, expecting I would replace the 3 inch PS hose, but the brazed hardline joint at the PS cooler was wet also, and sits above the 3 inch hose, which means a new $140 cooler. Wanting to verify that the hardline joint is leaking, I cleaned it up. Now three weeks later and hundreds of miles driving, no drips and the joint and hose are dry.

I am sure it will leak again and next time I will clean it up, and apply JB weld to the hardline joint. If that fails, I will buy a new cooler.

It appears to drip and make the spot after sitting for a few days. My power steering fluid has only lost a little fluid.

So thanks for the post Dave, as I do not how a system under pressure would not leak, and then leak occasionally when sitting. But you have also experienced the issue.

I have just repeated the leak a bunch of times. Anybody have a theory of why the cooler would not leak all the time? Hate to replace stuff and not understand what is happening as it usually does not fix it.

 

Well after sitting for three days it started to leak again today, mines leaking at the steering shaft. I'm tempted to try some sort of stop leak, I'm not a believer in those sort of things but it might be worth a try versus changing out the rack.

 

Humor me and pull the sheathing off the high pressure line. Is it wet beneath it?

 

I will check that tomorrow it's definitely dripping right under where the shaft comes out of the rack, I degreased everything and hosed down with hot water yesterday so everything underneath was squeaky clean and dry. Funny thing it was still like that when I got home today but within two hours it started to drip. I'll check the hose though it's always possible I could have two leaks.

 

I found that leaving the car stored with only charging the battery, the steering rack seals dried out causing leaks. The racks are no longer manufactured so a rebuild was all I could to. I now make a point to drive it several times during the winter. Had the car since new.

 

Yes, I know exactly what you're seeing because my car looks the same way. I too suspected my steering box itself was leaking based on where the fluid was apparently collecting. But once I pulled off that sheathing, that theory went right the hell out of the window when I saw that it was literally full of fluid. And just FYI, it is pretty common for high pressure hydraulic hoses to weep fluid after so many years of service.