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Power Steering Kaboom, now making things worse?

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:45 pm
by supa_fox
Hey Y'all,
So right when I am loading my little girl into the van, I notice a groady brown fluid coming out of her ( the van not the baby, for a change)
Had a quick look, not engine oil.... its -20.... f@#* it lets get my little girl home, thinking PS fluid....
Yep, it is, steering was stiff (stuck to the back roads and kept her slow) and reservoir empty.
Still to cold and dark to have a look to see what could have caused the fluid to drain in about 5 minutes of idling the van to get it warm, with no previous problems whatsoever.

My question, in a pinch, can I still drive the van or will a total lack of PS fluid cause damage to the system?

Cheers guys, any thoughts are appreciated!

Re: Power Steering Kaboom, now making things worse?

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:57 pm
by jessef
supa_fox wrote:My question, in a pinch, can I still drive the van or will a total lack of PS fluid cause damage to the system?
Yes you can drive without any concerns. Only thing is to pay attention when rolling slow on corners as it gets stiffer the slower you go. Probably the line cracked.

Re: Power Steering Kaboom, now making things worse?

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:16 am
by supa_fox
Thanks Jesse,
Man, I hope its a line, that would be nice and simple (assuming its accessable!)
My guess is if it were the PS pump it would be a slower gradual leak?

cheers

Re: Power Steering Kaboom, now making things worse?

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:39 pm
by jessef
depends on the size of the crack or rupture. hope it's a small easy one

Re: Power Steering Kaboom, now making things worse?

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:21 pm
by rezdiver
i would take the belt off the PS pump. running a high pressure pump dry cannot be good for it.

Re: Power Steering Kaboom, now making things worse?

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:59 am
by supa_fox
I think I am just going to park her for now, once the cold snap is over I will have a look (-30 w/o windchill today...)
How difficult are the lines to access?