DennisG01

Was just starting to get some groaning noise from the steering, more-so at cold temps. Steering still felt normal. Anyways, figured it was low on fluid so checked it and there was nothing on the dipstick. Parked it in the garage and won't drive it again till filling it up. But in the meantime wanted to find where the leak is. I can see plenty of evidence at the rack - right where the two lines connect (there didn't appear to be anything on the lines themselves, above the connection point). I did notice quite a bit of evidence where the steering shaft enters the rack.

After doing some googling and searching on this site, I've read through a lot of threads about the reservoir leaking via a rubber (flat) o-ring where the reservoir attaches to the pump. Looking at my reservoir, though, it appears different from everything else I've been able to find. It appears mine has a 1" (approx, didn't measure it) rubber hose between the reservoir and pump. I removed that center section of plastic air intake that is next to the reservoir and I looked and felt around at the hose and couldn't find any evidence of a leak.

I suppose I'm answering my own question as I write this, but am I missing anything? I sprayed everything with Brakleen real well and will take a look again after a bit of driving (once res full). I was hoping for a leaking reservoir, but that doesn't look to be the case.

Plutoe

Great diagnostics-----fix the rack leak!!

DennisG01

Do you happen to know if the spot where those two lines connect to the rack can be simply tightened? Is there are failing gasket or something? After I sprayed everything down with Brakleen last night, I couldn't really stay in the garage for more than a minute at a time. Which reminds me... I need to remember to buy the green can of Brakleen so I don't inhale chlorine gas!

I can check again later today - just curious for now.

dieseldoc

Steering rack leaks are common. Will probably need new rack. Had this on my GL.

alx

When they fail they leak at the piston seals on both ends of the rack. They also mark their territory i.e. Leak on the floor. If you don't have spotting on the floor it is not your rack imo.

DennisG01

Funny... It must not have been as low as I thought. I added about 5-6 ounces until it came up the bottom of the "neck" of the reservoir. Then I started turning the wheel back and forth (engine off, front wheels off the ground) and it burped what appeared to be 5-6 ounces of fluid onto my floor! Maybe I was turning the wheel too fast? I went slower and did about 30+ lock to locks.

It's not making noise right now - but the garage was 65*. We'll see tomorrow morning.

Definitely not leaking from the ends and nothing on the ground/floor. I'm not convinced it's from where the lines enter the rack, either. It might be from that yellow-ish, plastic cap where the steering shaft enters the rack. It's supper clean right now, so I'll check it tomorrow night after driving it during the day.

Fourdiesel

Even if it IS the rack the car can still be used (providing you don't mind the 'spotting'). The reservoir is very small relative to the amount of fluid it takes to cause some power steering noise. In mine it only takes about 50ml of fluid from "not on the dipstick" to "full". Once fluid appears on the dipstick the noise goes away. I've driven it this way for quite a while now just adding a bit of fluid when it gets noisy - about once a month. I can buy a LOT of PS fluid for the price of a dealer installed new steering rack!

DennisG01

No noise this morning. Will check for the leak point tonight.

I bet you're right that I was only an ounce or two low. I never would have imagined that the tolerance for fluid level was so tight. I have a warranty, but if it's something simple I'd rather just take care of it myself.

DennisG01

No obvious leak, yet. I'll keep checking. There was more oil/fluid on the tubular frame member under the steering rack, but I believe that was still from the mess I made earlier (probably from driving and the wind blowing around under the engine). I cleaned it all off again.

dieseldoc

That is good news!

DennisG01

I hope to eventually see the leak so at least I know where it's coming from. But, yeah, at least it's not a gusher!

Yup497

Dennis,

Did this end up being your rack?

texas008

there is an under carriage cover that might prevent the leaked oil from touching the garage floor.

DennisG01

Actually, it seems to have mostly stopped leaking. It's only every so often that I get a tiny drop - if at all.