Help! She's shot her load!

The old girl just spewed half the power steering fluid over the engine bay. Only looked under bonnet because the steering started groaning. Normal road driving, not a long drive, about 20 miles.

What do you think caused this?

A hole or weak point?

Turn it on, get somebody to turn the wheel and see where it is coming from, oil is hard to pinpoint when its not flowing.

Well, best I can tell is I came out of a vent hole in the screw cap?

Also, fluid is pink and full of bubbles. Hmmm, an air leak somewhere?

Stuballsed said:

Well, best I can tell is I came out of a vent hole in the screw cap?

Also, fluid is pink and full of bubbles. Hmmm, an air leak somewhere?

Click to expand...

If your fluid level is low the pump will aerate the fluid as it is sucking it in which is probably the cause of the bubbles you are seeing, top up to correct level and it should bleed the air out (and help you spot leak point)

Well, for those not died of boredome;

Nipped in to my local indi and he kindly topped up the reservoir and bled out the box.

Deffo looks like air is getting in from somewhere as the odd bubble surfaced and the fluid appeaded to be pulsing up and down a wee bit.

I guess it could be a small leak into the pipework, but, buggers luck suggest the pump is pining for the fiords

Well, to finish the story (i wish more peple would share how their tales ended) anyway, booked her into the garage for about a week later. Groaning noises got progresively worse then complete pwer steering failure and no more noise! (can you guess what it is yet).

I had to keep driving (yes, silly I know) for a couple of days till my slot cam up at the garage. By the time I got there pump pully was wobling about and belt half shedded. Needless to say, a new pump was needed!

All is well again now

Was just about to post that I had the same problem, which turned out to be the pump oil seal.

Got a replacement and fitted it after having to re-jig the mounts to take a later type pump.

Glad you're sorted.