Power Steering / Steering Rack
 

Looking for anyone with experience related to power steering service. Have a small puddle under the car most days - appears to be ATF fluid so could be either tranny or steering. Checking under the car most fluid wetness is concentrated around the steering rack and the PS lines feeding it but can't figure out exactly where coming from. Is this a common problem? All line connections are tight. I've done the reservoir o-ring fix and have no visible signs of fluid around the reservoir. I do experience a slight 'shudder' in the PS at parking lot speeds. Reservoir fluid level doesn't seem to be dropping noticeably. Nothing seems to be coming from the tranny above the steering rack either. Thoughts anyone!?

I had the line from the pump to the rack go bad, leaked what seemed to be a lot of fluid, but resivoir never seemed to get really low. I've also heard of the return lines going bad as well.

part was over $100 fairly easy to replace though

Check you lines...
 

like coca said. Given the heat stresses where they're located, it's a wonder they don't go more often. I had my return line go a few months back.

Have someone turn your wheels lock-to-lock while you look under the car. If it's the p/s hoses, you *should* see the most fluid flow when the steering reaches the ends of it's travel, don't get to close through, it could get you right in the face (don't ask me how I know :rolleyes: )

The return lines are known to get extremely brittle. You may have a crack or pinhole.

Also, check the tranny cooler lines that run that route, somewhere (can't remember) in that vacinity.

Ya, you know those lines in that spot of the car.

hope that narrows it down for ya:p

Take off the under cover and wipe everything, the hoses, down. Tie rags or paper towels around the joints and see what shows up. Best of luck.

The tranny hoses run along the driver's side of the engine, but enter the tranny at a higher height than the steering rack. The tranny lines that should start just behind the torque converter section of the trans and run up to underneath the battery area. They're just held on with cheezy hose clamps, so take a look.

Great responses - thanks!
 

Thanks to all who've responded - makes a guy feel good that others are so willing to help! I'll try your suggestions and post my results for future reference.

Re: Great responses - thanks!
 

That's what we're here for!!

Long overdue update
 

Tried the rag trick - wrapped up all the power steering joints/lines in the area of the leak - nothing - they stayed clean! Turned out I needed the 'flex plate' replaced (connects crankshaft output to transmission?). It's seal was allowing transmission fluid past causing the collection of fluid around the steering rack which is below it. Anyway - no leaks anymore!

Glad you found the leak.
 

Is that seal is in the back of the engine or the front of the transmission?

Anyway I guess the tranny had to come out?

I understood it to be in the front of the transmission (hence the leaking tranny fluid) and yes the tranny had to come out - again!

Was your leak on just one side of the rack, or all over it? I have fluid that surrounds the rubber boot area on only the driver's side.

Actually, as I remember it, it pretty much covered the whole rack. I think it essentially came from above the middle of the rack, dripped onto the rack and then spread from there.