Bizarre leak/ power steering

**hix5000** · 09-24-2008, 12:57 PM

This morning I pulled my car out of the garage and left it running in my driveway while I put the trash can out and shut the garage door. When I got back in the car and backed out into the street I noticed the power steering was gone completely. I looked back down my driveway and there was a large oil spot.

I figured my power steering pump was leaking or one of my power steering hoses burst. When I went to checked the oil and it was clear. I checked the fluid level in the car and it was right on the mark (same palce it always is). I started up the car to pull it back in the driveway and the power steering was back like nothing ever happened. I left the car running and watched under the vehicle for leaks but there was nothing.

So I hopped in the car and drove to work it's been fine all day so I'm a little confused on what exactly happened. There was a large oil spot (I know for sure it was not there before) yet all my fluids are right on where they should be, then my power steering cuts out and comes back like normal? Any ideas on what this could be?

**sunsetorangess** · 09-25-2008, 03:35 AM

What type of oil was it? Are you sure it is ps fluid?
May have just had a hiccup, any spots or drips on the car?
J

**blue02Z** · 09-25-2008, 02:29 PM

how many miles on it? original steering rack? find out what kind of fluid was on the ground. it could be morning sickness. doubt it tho

**hix5000** · 09-25-2008, 06:11 PM

I can't be 100% sure it was power steering fluid I just know the power steering stopped working for a minute. The car has 130,000 miles on it and pretty much everything is original.

I had to jam to work so I didn't get time to make a close inspection of the fluid. When I stuck my finger in the puddle that morning it was definatly an oily fluid and it looked to be clear. Although it was still dark I was looking at it under the light of a street lamp. When I got home there was no stain left on the driveway where the fluid leak had been.

**Orcus79** · 09-25-2008, 06:14 PM

Check your coolant level and around the water pump for a leak.

**sunsetorangess** · 09-26-2008, 04:20 AM

If it didnt leave a stain than it wasnt an oil, it was either condensation, coolant, If you had your ac on it may have just been condensation...
J

**blue02Z** · 09-26-2008, 04:44 AM

i agree, prolly not any oil at all, maybe the condensation from your a/c dripped down and got some oil on it from your engine or something. coolant is real slippery, are you okay on your coolant?

**hix5000** · 09-26-2008, 05:57 PM

Coolant level is good. The a/c wasn't running and I had not had the car out since around 5 days before that.

**Danger731** · 09-26-2008, 06:07 PM

Driveway on an angle ?

**blue02Z** · 09-26-2008, 07:03 PM

well shit, somone prolly thru some oil under their why you werent looking

**hix5000** · 09-26-2008, 08:05 PM

Yes, the driveway is at an angle.

**TexasLS1** · 09-27-2008, 08:44 PM

My p/s quit working like that for about 10 - 15 min after doing a donut in a parking lot (that's what I deserved for horseing around), but after that, I've never had any problems. I have no idea what that was about, but I never tried that again. That's quite different from backing out of the garage, though. Sorry can't help you out.

**raysz28** · 11-09-2008, 07:33 PM

i have been autocrossing with mine for 4 years now, and the p/s pump is whining bad. i have heard that the Turnone pump is the best replacement. thoughts? i need to do it this winter.

thanks

**wultdat** · 11-09-2008, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by raysz28

i have been autocrossing with mine for 4 years now, and the p/s pump is whining bad. i have heard that the Turnone pump is the best replacement. thoughts? i need to do it this winter.

thanks

I would go with the Turn One pump. If you're going to replace it, you might as well replace it with something better than stock and that is made to handle auto crossing. I replaced mine with the Turn One pump when it went out and I don't regret it one bit. The install isn't difficult either, you just need all the right tools.