Leaking power steering - what's the issue?

Now then,

I noticed when I started my 2000 Disco. II yesterday that it was making a wurring noise, especially when I turned the steering.

I opened the bonnet and turned the wheel and could hear the noise coming from just by the bulkhead on the drivers side. I checked the fluid reservoir and it was low and small air bubbles were coming through it.

I went to a local garage who I get on well with to ask for some power steering fluid - when we looked the fluid was red and apparently it should be green - so it's possible that the wrong fluid has been used (previous owner). We topped it up with PSF (wrong stuff) on the theory that if we used PAS the two wouldn't mix.

As soon as I poured some in I could see it drip (a tiny bit) onto the ground to which the mechanic immediately said "You're power steering box has gone. I won't do that, go to ...... garage, they do them."

Is that the straight out explanation?

What are the costs?

Anything to look out for? Any cons etc?

He also mentioned something about "use a genuine one because if you use a non-genuine one and it goes wrong and needs replacing there's an £80 surcharge...". Any ideas?

I meant to say that the reason he won't do the job is because he said he's done one before and the drivers air bag went off.

Is any of this a job I can do myself?

aint power steeering fluid ATF?thats what i used in me rangie, and it was red.Changing a steering box shouldnt ant see how hes done thatset off an air bag.I cant see how hes done that.Have you got the rave cd?That might help you out n busters photoguides are very useful

if you need a power steering box pm me and ill give you a number for a mate whos got quite a few good ones and they are cheap !

pas fluid comes in both green and red the red stuff is atf and thats what i have used but a disco should us genuine land rove pas flud but a defender td5 can use normal pas (atf) you problem is not caused buy the wrong fluid changing the steering box is in no way conected to the air bags he just did not want the job

nor would i on my disco one it was a righ c**t to change two men on the job at one stage, due to the weight of the bloody things

You sure it's not the hoses? Mine failed at 120000 miles - a stone had hit a metal section of the hose and perforated it...
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 TD5 HIGH PRES STEERING HOSE LHD on eBay (end time 15-Mar-10 17:21:33 GMT)

check which bit the fluids leaking from , I just changed my power steering pump (easy job) to solve a similar problem

I'm off to the garage later to speak to them about it. I'll take my romper suit and hopefully have a bit of a look at it.

I did wonder whether it could just be a hose or something, especially as I could see air bubbles in the reservoir.

Air bags - something about he'd hit it with a hammer and it'd gone off. Not fussed if he doesn't want the work to be honest, he is on his own doing all these jobs.

Steaming North said:

Air bags - something about he'd hit it with a hammer and it'd gone off. Not fussed if he doesn't want the work to be honest, he is on his own doing all these jobs.

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I'll bet he didn't remove the battery negative lead, before banging around.

i did mine on a friends drive way

is the fluid dripping off the drop arm


my 'new' recon'ed one is now leaking around the top 4 bolts