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        General >> Problems >> Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
        
(Message started by: dogma on May 26^th, 2007, 12:06am)

Title: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by dogma on May 26^th, 2007, 12:06am

Hi all, my scorp has developed another problem and I think it may be a big one. ???
Ok, drove it to work this morning, all was well ;D. Parked it up for around 8 hours and when I returned and started it up it was making a bad noise :o, at first it sounded like somthing was rubbing on a belt, that sort of noise which got worse as I turned the wheel, it then changed to a servo sort of noise(excuse the noise discriptions lol). I decided to see if I could get her home which I did but almost streight away I had power steering then I didnt, on and off all the time. I could also hear a sort of liquid noise from the engine bay, as if squirting :-/.
Once home I checked and the car had lost all the power steering fluid and was a puddle of it under the car. No visible leaks in the engin bay, oil resavoir was not damaged :-[
any ideas before I start to take her apart
many thanks
dogma :-/ :-/ :-/

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by Highlander on May 26^th, 2007, 1:07am

check the oil cooler below the radiator, its a single looped pipe.

A common place is the hose below the fluid reservoir splitting where its pushed on but you would have seen some oil around it and below

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by jonnycab on May 26^th, 2007, 2:44am

The noises you were getting sounds like the power steering pump bearings have given up....& the fluid could have leaked from the pump ;)

If you can get the drive belt off, then you can check the pump pulley by trying to turn it by hand. If it doesn't turn or is very stiff then it's over to 'parts wanted' ;)

All the best :)

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by Simmo on May 26^th, 2007, 7:45am

The other place for the fluid to 'hide' before leaking out is in the steering gaiters which can swell and hold a large quantity before the pressure forces it out. There is only one cure for that scenario which is a replacement rack. Repairing the inner seals is not a viable alternative.

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by mazzy_j on May 26^th, 2007, 9:42am

Sounds just like the noises made when my pump gave up about a month ago, just dont go driving too far because if the bearing and seal have gone then what happens is the pulley complete with pump innards falls off and it makes and even worse noise as it starts rubbing on bits of radiator fan because the engine pulley is still turning it!

Hopefully though it is just a simple case of a split hose :)

Matt

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by dogma on May 26^th, 2007, 10:34am

Hi all, many thanks for your replys. Will have a good look tomorow and start to pull her apart, had a quick look this morning and found a coating on the pipes leading from the resavoir but not a great deal, fingers crossed its not the rack
many thanks
dogma :-*

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by dogma on May 27^th, 2007, 1:52pm

Hi all, had a look today but my jack sort of broke so cant get the belly pan off till tuesday when i get a new jack. Well the oil is leaking or was from the right hand side, I checked the gaitor on the r/h side and its fine, the oil however seems to be coming from the area near or from the pump as the hoses around it are covered in oil and grime. The pump is still spinning with the belt so could that still be the cause. Hoping its just a split pipe so keep your fingers crossed.
Oh and can the pump still spin quietly if it is nackered
many thanks
dogma

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by Matt on May 27^th, 2007, 7:29pm

dogma,

what engine do you have? i think i may have a pump off a cosie engine i bought a few months back

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by dogma on May 27^th, 2007, 11:40pm

Hi Matt, its the 2.9 12v on a P plate, the V6 one :D

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by dogma on May 29^th, 2007, 7:06pm

Disaster guys and gals, the gator is full of fluid, looks like I need a new rack sob sob :-[

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by mermaid on Jun 1^st, 2007, 2:45pm

Just had a refurbished rack put on my car today for the same problem, part exd the old one and the new one only cost me £50 so its not so bad.
Luckily the mechanics a friend so the labour charge is minimal but he says its not very difficult to fit anyway so it might not be as bad as you think. :)

Title: Re: Power steering fluid leaking/no steering
Post by dogma on Jun 1^st, 2007, 10:51pm

Sounds good, unfortunately im just moving house and my partner just started a new job so big lack of money so I had to opt for a breakers yard job, checked the car and it was low milage so will have to do for abit, but wow these cars are expensive to maintain lol :-/