Power Steering Leak

[betterthansx]

On my drive home tonight I started to hear the power steering pump whine so I checked the reservoir when I got off the hightway....empty. When I did my last oil change about a month ago it was just fine, so this is new.

I took my little flashlight and quickly looked around for wet spots or drips on the belly pan. Nothing that I could see. I will take another look in the morning when there is more light but is this common?

I did some searching on here and Google and it looks like guys just have old seals go and such, but is there a common one that goes just so I can focus my search? It is a Gen1 with about 166,000km so I would not be surprised that a seal has gone, but some guidance to common issues would be helpful.

Thanks in advance.

[dentinger]

Check the p/s pump pulley seal, all the lines, especially the pressure line (pump to rack), and finally, check the rack. Take a pick and poke a hole in the bottom of the boot bellow. If the rack is leaking, fluid will drip out.

[betterthansx]

Check the p/s pump pulley seal, all the lines, especially the pressure line (pump to rack), and finally, check the rack. Take a pick and poke a hole in the bottom of the boot bellow. If the rack is leaking, fluid will drip out.

I will check that out! Thanks. I looked at it yesterday and there is no visible signs of a leak around any of the lines or fittings. When I get it up on the lift at farm this weekend I will be able to actually prod around and hopefully find something. I have just been topping the PS fluid daily to make sure it doesn't run dry.

[taz4432]

If you can find something like this locally (alternatively you can order some online): http://www.amazon.com/Tracer-Product.../dp/B000JFHNTM, pour some into the PS steering reservoir when you fill it up, run the car a bit, get a blacklight flashlight and then you can trace where it's leaking from.

Ideal conditions are to do it in a dark/pitch black environment garage door closed with lights off is adequate and anywhere the dye is will glow like crazy. I've used it to find engine oil leaks that were nearly impossible to trace because of spray caused by the pullies.