I had posted on another forum. I won’t say the name and I was suggested that I might have better luck over here. I’ve had this power steering leak (well a slow seep) for a few yrs and I decided to check and find were it was coming from. Background I would get a few drips on the ground every few weeks, but didn’t see the fluid level change. I maybe added some once to two times a yr. I could see it on the drivers side of the belly pan and the drivers side underside. While I had it in service position I could see wetness around where the 2 rubber lines hook up to the cooler and saw a few bubbles. Checked the return line that most often fails and it was dry as a bone. I also could wetness around the back side of the engine where power steering pump was. While I had it in service position I had the nose raised up and rear on the ground. Fluid (I am 95% sure its powers steering since it is light color) ran down the top of the drive shaft and dripped down on the ground. Where in the world can this leak be coming from? I also get a little whine when I turn the wheel, I would think that’s due to the fact that it is sucking in air somewhere.
You did come to the right place. All the technical guys have left the other forum for the most part and try to help here.
Even still leaks are kinda though to help with due to the fact it could be anywhere.
But let’s try this. The PS or power steering fill container is on the driver side as I’m sure you know. The lines from the PS fill container go down and back along side the frame rail behind heat shielding the one line goes in to the power steering rack that connects to each side of the cars control arms. The one line also goes into the pump as you mentioned at the back lower part of the motor on the drivers side. The PS rack is tucked up above the motor and transmission just below the intermediate fire wall. That sounds like a good place to look and the fluid can just be riding the lines due to gravity.
A little sweating around the lines at the front by where the lines meet the PS cooler is normal.
I don’t know how helpful this was but hopefully this paints a different picture. If this wasn’t helpful or if you have more questions feel free to post. If i can help I will and so will the others.
I had noticed there was less tech talk going on over there. Some helpful people still remain, but there are more people that want to start a fight over there now.
Your answer helped because you took the time to point me in different directions. It would help if I had a lift to really see what was going on. I had my mind rite to try and replace the return line, it just doesn’t appear that’s the issue. I was changing my oil today and I couldn’t even begin to see where the leak is starting from. I may try to put some uv dye in the system to possibly find out. However with only having sundays off for the near future I may just have a shop try and find it in the fall, if things don’t change on my end. I rather save the money and do the work myself, but that may not be possible.
Yeah AZ is getting pretty sad. There are a few good guys left but it won’t be long. AZ started blocking audirevolution.net as a link and a word to try and stop people from finding this site. We all just suggest that if you found help here that you try to help send someone else that might need help here.
On the PS. The return line can have a weep hole in it. The biggest problem for the return line is full lock turning. One thing you can try doing is cleaning off the bottom of the car jacking up the car and slowly turning the wheel. Just don’t lock it. If you shine a very bright light up from the bottom you can see stuff flex and that might he
point you in the direction. What I do is jack up the car and add cinder blocks on the side for extra safety while I’m under the car.
If the PS system isn’t whining alot that’s good. The leaking sounds slow just keep away from full lock and you should be able to go for a long enough time to find the source.
Yea its kinda sad over there. I mean the whine is very low pitched and kinda hard to hear over the engine. I’m hyper sensitive when it comes to sounds so I notice it. The good thing there are mostly straight roads down where I live, so its very rare I get into a lock to lock situation. Its just annoying to see little drops under the car. There are two things a can’t stand, fluid leaks and warning lights on my dash…lol