Power steering issue any advice

[Tim beard]

hi guys , been out in the car today blowing away the cobwebs , was out for a good 3 to 4 hours and all was behaving very well , pulled on the drive , opened garage door then it dropped all the power steering fliud , any one got any ideas before I start buying any parts

 

[FRANKIE]

hi guys , been out in the car today blowing away the cobwebs , was out for a good 3 to 4 hours and all was behaving very well , pulled on the drive , opened garage door then it dropped all the power steering fliud , any one got any ideas before I start buying any parts

It might just be the line on the high pressure side of the pump. If you get under the car you can see where it's coming from. Less probable is the return line. You might be able to see it from up top.................Frankie

 

[Tim beard]

It might just be the line on the high pressure side of the pump. If you get under the car you can see where it's coming from. Less probable is the return line. You might be able to see it from up top.................Frankie

At the moment all I can see is fluid dripping from the bottom of the pump where the metal pipe bolts in

 

[Brian H]

The crimp on the lower hose where it goes from metal to rubber can fail, a jubilee clip can sort this out, another weak spot is where the metal cooling loop fixes on to the car at the bottom, the pipe can fracture, either way you will need to get in and about the car to check.

 

[Brian H]

At the moment all I can see is fluid dripping from the bottom of the pump where the metal pipe bolts in

The metal pipe has a flange on the end that pushes into the pump, this is behind the locknut, this flange can split.

 

[FRANKIE]

At the moment all I can see is fluid dripping from the bottom of the pump where the metal pipe bolts in

I never had to work on it on a Z. There might be a seal that went bad or the line sometimes has a crimped metal fitting to the hose which might be bad. Usually if a pump goes bad, it's the impeller inside and it no longer pumps and starts to squeal as the pulley becomes defective. Usually when it leaks its the hose or a rubber seal, but not always. Frankie

 

[Tim beard]

I never had to work on it on a Z. There might be a seal that went bad or the line sometimes has a crimped metal fitting to the hose which might be bad. Usually if a pump goes bad, it's the impeller inside and it no longer pumps and starts to squeal as the pulley becomes defective. Usually when it leaks its the hose or a rubber seal, but not always. Frankie

Ok guys thanks for the info will try and get under in the week and look

 

[t-tony]

Get yourself armed with a couple of aerosols of brake cleaner too Tim. It will wash the fluid away and allow you to see where it's coming from.

Tony.

ps. Was the car still running when it dumped the oil or had you already turned it off?

 

[Tim beard]

Get yourself armed with a couple of aerosols of brake cleaner too Tim. It will wash the fluid away and allow you to see where it's coming from.

Tony.

ps. Was the car still running when it dumped the oil or had you already turned it off?

Stopped on drive and turned off , opened garage door restarted the car and steering was all stiff and losing fuild , lucky really as 5 minutes earlier I was on the motorway

 

[gookah]

I bet the pipe has split at the flaring inside the nut that screws into the pump. The flexing of the pipe causes it to split just inside the nut and it looks as if it will fix with tightening but it doesn't.
New pipe needed if it was like mine.

 

[t-tony]

That certainly sounds like a leak on the pressure side of the system to me. If you clean off the splillage then top up the reservoir , get someone to start the car and watch for the leak. Have them ready to turnoff quickly though,

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

I bet the pipe has split at the flaring inside the nut that screws into the pump. The flexing of the pipe causes it to split just inside the nut and it looks as if it will fix with tightening but it doesn't.
New pipe needed if it was like mine.

Had a very similar problem on our Abbie and Andy's Insignia Pete, but their car was only about 6 years old.

Tony.

 

[FRANKIE]

I bet the pipe has split at the flaring inside the nut that screws into the pump. The flexing of the pipe causes it to split just inside the nut and it looks as if it will fix with tightening but it doesn't.
New pipe needed if it was like mine.

Did you actually see the leak coming from that point?

 

[gookah]

saw it coming out from where the pipe enters into the nut. the nut covers it from normal view.
It was absolutely chucking it out, (for want of a censored word)

 

[t-tony]

Sure sounds like it's somewhere under full pressure mate.

Tony.

 

[FRANKIE]

saw it coming out from where the pipe enters into the nut. the nut covers it from normal view.
It was absolutely chucking it out, (for want of a censored word)

At least that tells you the pump is doing its job..............Frankie

 

[Tim beard]

Ok guys thanks for all the info will try and get under her tonight after work , I will get back to you all later , thanks again

 

[Ianmc]

The cooling pipe is a well known weak spot. They corrode where brackets are welded to them. My car has had 3 in the last 12 years.

 

[Tim beard]

Hi mate it's pump or the pipe that bolts to the pump that is leaking , but not sure wot or where

 

[t-tony]

Pipe olive is the likely suspect.

Tony.