Power Steering woes - HELP!

Hi all,
Perhaps someone can shed some light on this for me...

This morning when I started the freebie I heard a strange sort of sound. I didn't think much of it until I turned the steering wheel and a sound like a large cow "mooing" was emitted from the driver's side under the bonnet. It happened whether turning left or right and seemed to quieten down after a few minutes.

On my way home from work I started up and immediately had the sound again and again after a few minutes it seemed to subside.

When I got home I grabbed a torch, popped the bonnet and decided to investigate. The power steering reservoir was below the minimum which seemed a bit odd since I'm pretty sure that about a week previously it seemed to be at the right level!

Anyway I then looked underneath and could see "something" on the ground. It looked like a redish fluid and was falling to the ground on the passenger side. I then shone the torch under the bonnet on that side and I could see, against the bulkhead a narrow curved pipe which seems to connect to a much wider pipe. This narrower pipe appears to be somewhat corroded and the fluid was seeping out at the point where a nut connects the narrow and wider pipes.

My questions are;

1) Are the two things connected?
2) If that pipe needs to be replaced am I up for big cash?
3) I'll be taking the freebie to a mechanic tomorrow however I'd rather not risk damaging the power steering - Is it ok to top it up to the maximum level in the morning before driving around 3 miles to the garage?
4) If the answer to question 3 is to top it up, is it just standard that I can pick up at any petrol station or is it some special type?

That's all folks. Any helpful sugestions / insightful comments would be a real help right now.

Thanks,

Andy.

Power steering pump fubar.

Red fluid is ATF, Automatic transmission fluid also used in power steering resevoirs. Any light oil down to hydraulic oil will let you drive to your garage with no significant damage to the power steering pump, so long as it still lubricates the gears. However the trail you may leave behind may not please A/ your neighbours B/ your garage forecourt.
It may only be a fractured/rusted pipe and if it is on the non pressure, return side it is a simple task to repair, on the pressure side it will need a L/R part or a specially made pipe.

The freebie is at the local garage at the moment. I bought some ATF from Halfords and topped it up the the maximum this morning then started up - It was perfectly quiet again however that pipe where it connects is definately leaking. It is where it connects into the rack (I think). The mechanic said that he'd try to tighten it up however if that doesn't cure it - I'll need a replacement pipe. I'm pretty sure that's what I'll need as it does look a little corroded.

I'll post an update once I have more info.

Andy.

ok...

Bad news I'm afraid...

Mechanic confirmed that the pipe is corroded and needs to be replaced. I called LR and they have kindly sent me two files so that I can let them know which pipe is needed. Apparently one is around the £80 mark and the other around the £260 mark - The LR guy thinks I'll probably need the latter :-(

Now all I have to do is work out from their diagrams, which pipe it actually is ;-)

Andy.

Just an update...

One of the rigid pipes for the power steering had corroded and needed replacement. Land Rover supplied the part at £48 inc VAT. I had it fitted by the local mechanic who also put the freebie through it's MOT. It failed on a track rod end and had an advisory for centre and rear exhaust boxes corroded.

Anyway all the work was carried out so the freebie now has a non - leaky power steering system, a replaced track rod end and a new 12 months MOT. The cost... £150; (plus the £48 that I paid for the pipe).

I can't argue with that and I'm happy again (or at least I would be if we got some snow)!

I've just found exactly the same problem on my Freelander, what is the name of the larger pipe that the smaller one goes too?

These might help: