Tracking down the latest leak
Once the weather cooperates, I can wipe everything down and get a better look but it looks like there is fluid on the power steering rack. I'm just not sure if it is coming from the rack or something else. I can definitely smell it burning when I stop at a light. It looks like I get a couple of drops a day from the leak. Hopefully it won't get worse before I can get a better look.
|
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Try and see what color the fluid is. If it's p/s or atf then it will be pink and you'll have an idea of what it could be. There are trans fluid cooler lines that run above and nearby the steering rack. A trans leak is something that you definitely wouldn't want getting out of hand. Check fluids regularly until you've got it figured out.
|
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Old Subarus mark their territory. Mine have leaked something from somewhere as long as I've had them, in spite of hose and gasket and seal replacements.
Could just be a loosened hose fitting. Then again, I had to replace a very leaky rack at somewhere around 170,000 miles (and the other is losing PS fluid now), and that doesn't seem so extraordinary for such an aged daily driver. dcb |
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Quote:
Tom, Did you replace those cooler lines when the car was down? I know you replaced a bunch of lines but I can't remember if those were among them. If so, maybe I should just replace the clamps on them and see if it stops. |
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Do you know which side it is on?
The easiest way to figure which is leaking is to check the fluids. |
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
If you can get under the car, use a flashlight. Look at the highest clean wet spot and the closest to the front of the car. Fluid will drip down and spread towards the rear while driving. This is how I found my leak. It was a hose clamp.
|
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Huskey,
I had a leak from the transmission lines above the rack. It was leaking onto the axle which was throwing all over everything in the area as it spun, including the steering rack. The area is very inaccessible, i had to bring it to SVXFiles to repair since I just could not get it from above or below. What he did was remove the wheel and axle which gave more room to get at it. |
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Quote:
I had a small leak for awhile from my P/S lines, and then I figured out it was the hose when it gave while snow drifting and pissed ATF all over the snow. :lol: |
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Quote:
|
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Finally had a decent day and some time. I took off the cover under the engine so all drips would just fall freely to the ground and I could isolate exactly where it was dripping from. I took a large cardboard box, unfolded it and taped some paper towels to it so I could see the fluid color. By far, the largest leak is coming from the passenger side fitting for the transmission cooler in the radiator. I'm guessing it is the clamp as OT replaced the lines with new ones. So now I need to figure out what to do about it and how. Should I just tighten the clamp? Should I replace the clamp and, if so, do the old clamps come completely off or do I need to remove the line from the fitting? Is it possible that the current clamp compromised the line such that I need to replace the line too? If I need to pull off the line, how much fluid should I expect to need to catch?
I suppose it is possible I have other leaks too but this one is by far the worst and most likely causing the majority of the oil spots on the driveway. |
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Quote:
If the "tongue" of the clamp has buckled/kinked, it might be preventing the clamp from evenly clamping the hose. I only use high quality hoses, so the hoses should be fine. you should remove the old clamp so that is not a future problem. If you do remove one end of the hose you should expect to loose a pint of ATF unless you are quick. |
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Quote:
|
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Clamp a hose pliers on the line to prevent loss of fluid or you can use a vise grip with a rag to prevent damaging the hose. Then you can work without rushing.
|
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
I just replaced every hose on this vehicle, and those transmission hose above the left cat can be accessed if you take the wheel off and get a long extension and a 8mm socket. I would replace those hoses with some power steering line from autozone, that you can buy by the foot. The transmission leak from the radiator that you are talking about is probably the fitting and not the hose, after I changed my hoses that fitting was leaking.
|
Re: Tracking down the latest leak
Quote:
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:44 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2001-2015 SVX World Network
(208)-906-1122