Power Steering Leak

[terrimac]

This has been very frustrating, for I have had the Power Steering Pump, Rack and Pinion changed twice and the hoses once on my 1991 LS400. I have also had to replace the battery and the alternator once each because of this leak. Please tell me what these guys at the shops can not figure out. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

TerriMac

[nc211]

Gonna need a lot more information than that to help amigo. Where is it leaking? How many miles on it, how many miles on the new components now? Did you use new OEM parts, or aftermarket parts. Did you have an indi-mechanic do it, do it yourself, or have the dealership do the repairs.

Describe the problem a bit more and maybe we can point you in the right direction.

[Threadcutter]

This has been very frustrating, for I have had the Power Steering Pump, Rack and Pinion changed twice and the hoses once on my 1991 LS400. I have also had to replace the battery and the alternator once each because of this leak. Please tell me what these guys at the shops can not figure out. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

TerriMac

Terri:

I'm guessing between the lines here (see nc's post), but did anyone ever check/replace the Air Control Valve (ACV) ? It is the black, two hose barbed piece on the P/S pump, next to the right side wheel well. You may be sucking P/S fluid into the intake air chamber. Pull the vacuum line at the intake air chamber (opposite end from the ACV & see if you have signs of P/S fluid in the hose.

Please tell me what these guys at the shops can not figure out.

Uhhhhhh.............Whomever is doing your work is charging too much (?).......................

From my experience, it doesn't pay to "shotgun" individual parts in the P/S System. The repair person MUST determine which parts are marginal or bad, and replace them. You're just packing sand down a rathole unless the entire system is looked over. It's not that tough, but it does take (a little) time & (a little) patience. Please do a search for Power Steering Pump........A lot of us have posted a whole bunch on this subject. You'll find more than you'll ever want to know. Maybe even direct your mechanic(s) to some of the posts.

[terrimac]

My vehicle currently has 140,000 miles and the repairs were done in 2004 and 2002 with about 8000miles between the change and 15,000 since. The dealer is the one that originally indicated the problem, which to my recollection, started as a problem with the power steering cable shorting out and loosing all power steering. I was informed that OEM parts were used from the stock at the dealership. I do not have the tools or the knowledge to do the project myself and I trusted the dealership too many times.

As far as checking the ACV - no one has ever checked it. My opinion is similiar to yours, in that there may be another avenue to the problem.

Thanks, I'll have someone check the ACV.

terrimac

[Threadcutter]

terrimac:

The dealer is the one that originally indicated the problem, which to my recollection, started as a problem with the power steering cable shorting out and loosing all power steering. I was informed that OEM parts were used from the stock at the dealership. I do not have the tools or the knowledge to do the project myself and I trusted the dealership too many times.

You will tend to see a certain amount of anomosity toward dealers displayed, myself included. Here's why; Whoever told you that the power steering cable shorting out was the problem, is/was lying to you. Unless I'm forgetting something really obvious, there is no electrical connection to the Power Steering Pump. Conversely, there is a P/S Rack Solenoid, & I suppose it could be that was the problem.

You'll spend your time well if you do a search on this subject & read up on it. By the time you're done, you'll be very well versed, so that if someone is BS'ing you, you'll know right away.