A line to my steering box is leaking fluid and my power steering reservoir fluid level is at “add”. The whole line is soaking wet as you can see. How do I fix this? Also can I use any power steering fluid to top it off?
Power Steering Leak
- Thread starter DropTopDon
- Start date
A line to my steering box is leaking fluid and my power steering reservoir fluid level is at “add”. The whole line is soaking wet as you can see. How do I fix this? Also can I use any power steering fluid to top it off?
I cured my power power steering system leak with a bottle of Lucas power steering stop leak. Use a turkey baster to suck out all of the old ps fluid from its reservoir and rrfill it with the stop leak. Give it several days, odds are good it will help significantly. It completely cured my leak.
OP
I will try that. Does the stop leak replace my old PS fluid or do I have to flush it out and refill it after a few days? If so can I just use ATF +4? I have a 2004.
That looks like the return line is leaking from the clamp area. The hose will get brittle and start leaking. But verify from the highest point down. The fan will blow the fluid back also. You can cut the clamp and get some power steering return hose and replace just the rubber part. If the pump reservoir is plastic carefully remove the clamp and cut the hose lengthwise down the reservoir nipple and carefully remove. You don’t want to break the nipple off the reservoir. I recommend a full circle clamp or spring clamp vs a worm type clamp that will damage the hose.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pow...980,iid:12072939455300807427,pvt:hg&oshop=apv
It replaces and is compatible with the ATF. But as above verify if the leak is coming from a bad hose or the housing. If it's actually just a bad hose replace it.
If you replace the hose that's going insert air into the PS system. That air will have to be bled out before you can start the engine. That involves jacking up the front end enough to get the tires mostly off the ground. Fill the PS system with fresh ATF+4 and then cycle the steering wheel fully L-R-L 25 times. Watch the ATF level and add more if needed. It might even overflow since it changes level as you do this. Then start the engine.
Running the engine before bleeding it when there's still air in PS system can damage the PS pump when it cavitates from the trapped air.
Easier to say to use ATF+4 in the PS system if it's a 2003 or newer. PS fluid if it's 2002 or older.
I had a leak on my hose coming from the reservoir. The hose was good so I just replaced the clamp and it solved the problem. Just have to find the leak before you can fix it lol
Spray it down with brake cleaner to clear away all the mess that’s on there now. Then start her up and locate the leak.
OP
It’s leaking from the top of the line and it drips all the way down. Does anyone know which rubber line I need to replace it?
My return line had a seep to it, I was able to slide an additional 1/4 hose clamp on lower and next to the factory one and stop it.
OP
I will try to just add new clamps and see if it fixes it. Silly question but is the reservoir where I need to siphon the fluid the clear container near the brake booster where the fill/add line is? Or is it the black plastic container where the return line connects to
The return line is the one with the clamps on it. You can get some power steering return hose and just replace that and the clamps. If you order the return line it will come with the metal portion to the gearbox.
OP
Problem has arisen. I was using a turkey baster to siphon the fluid out and the needle fell into the reservoir
It’s laying horizontally. Will I have to take everything apart now to get it out? Currently looking for tweezers or pliers thin and long enough
It’s laying horizontally. Will I have to take everything apart now to get it out? Currently looking for tweezers or pliers thin and long enough
OP
Was going to try getting one of those. I’m just not sure if the needle is magnetic. Will definitely try that though