Hi all, I recently had a post about some groaning noises when making a left turn which turned out to be my power steering fluid resevoir being low. Well I topped it off since but now I noticed that I have a leak. It started small where I would top it off once a week and now its pretty bad where I have to top it off almost everytime I drive the car. So, my question is, would it be the power steering rack or the pump that might be leaking and how can I tell. I'm not sure where the pump is located. I know if its the rack I need to replace the whole assembly which I read in a previous thread. So if anyone can give me some insight on this problem I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

 

The pump is up top above the alternator.
You will have to fill it up and run the car watching for it to leak.
Might just be a little hose that is bad.

 

Hi Tech,
So would it be very obvious if it was the pump or hose, as in the fluid would be dripping from engine bay instead of near the PS rack, I would assume? When I look down from under the hood near the firewall I can see the PS rack and its definitely wet from the PS fluid. The drips are more to the right side of the car, almost underneath or just before the front passenger seat. I would also like to know if the PS goes out completely how dangerous would that be while driving? Thanks.

 

If the hose from the fluid bottle was leaking it might drip on the passenger side where you see it leaking from.
Is it all wet by the bottle?
Are the hoses from the bottle all wet?

It will be very hard to steer if you run all the way out of fluid.

 

Don't condem the expensive parts before checking the cheap ones.

 

No, the hoses aren't wet at all neither is the pump. The only area that seems wet is where the PS rack is on the passenger side.

 

Clean it all up nice and if you can put the car on ramps then let it run and watch for it to leak.

 

OK, I'll keep you posted. Thanks!

 

Just take it to a shop and have them look at the rack and tell you if is leaking. If it is, then go to the closest junk yard and pick up one that isnt. I just had to to this job and the total was around $450 for parts an labor on a used one. New it would have been a $1000 job.

 

Yeah I know I should but I always feel like when I take my car to the shop they always get me for something else, what can I say I'm a sucker when it comes to car shops. Thats why I've been trying to learn to do things on my own whenever possible and if its too much for me to handle then I'll certainly take in. By the way, I found a shop online that sells a new PS rack for $350. www.carsteering.com. Just need to find a shop to put it.
Thanks for your input!

 

Well if you have checked those hoses. And it only looks like it is coming from the r/f(=if you were sitting inthe drivers seat)boot (=black plastic accordian). Then itmay be your rack.

The only way to ever really learn anything is to do it your-self. However this is a big job for a novice and I don't recommend it. For several reasons.

Used partsare agamble. Its been my experience that they almost always have a pay out.

As for a finding a good shop.
Some tips
Ask to speak to the tech working on your car.
Ask him to show you whats wrong.
Ask him thewhyand how.
You may not understand every technical aspect but I'm sureyou know when your getting snowed. Especially when youvisually can observe what they are talking about.
If they won't do this; be suspect.

 

Well, after further inspection I did notice that it was coming from that boot on the right hand side which would mean that its a bad rack. I did call around for some pricing and boy, its not cheap. The Volvo dealer by me said it would cost around $1,133 for the whole job. $270 for installation only if I bring in my own part but without a warranty. So $350 for a new rack online plus $270 for install sure sounds better than $1,133. Either way its gonna cost me a pretty penny. Thanks for your help!