Leaking power steering fluid.

[SOCSTP]

Leaking power steering fluid.

LS Mechanics - I had a slow leak in my power steering line. Over the past week the leak has gotten much worse. When I turn the wheel either direction to the limit it looks like the fluid is spraying onto the belt closest to the power steering fluid reservior. Could this be a pressure hose or is it something worse? 2001 LS V6 - Thank SOCSTP - Scott

 

[Dutch]

It may be a hose. My pump was leaking, and it was really far forward on the driver's side. It cost $625 to replace at friend prices. My regular shop quoted me $850. I hope that's not your problem.

(BTW the reason it's so expensive is it's hard to get to. The pump itself is only ~$250.)

 

[lsbit]

It may be a hose. My pump was leaking, and it was really far forward on the driver's side. It cost $625 to replace at friend prices. My regular shop quoted me $850. I hope that's not your problem.

OMG!

 

[SoonerLS]

Leaking power steering fluid.

LS Mechanics - I had a slow leak in my power steering line. Over the past week the leak has gotten much worse. When I turn the wheel either direction to the limit it looks like the fluid is spraying onto the belt closest to the power steering fluid reservior. Could this be a pressure hose or is it something worse? 2001 LS V6 - Thank SOCSTP - Scott

I haven't really gotten into the mechanics of the LS yet, but my T-Bird had a hard line that ran across the crossmember, and it eventually rubbed through. Of course, it did so almost 30 miles from home; I looked like a DE (destroyer escort) in a WWII film, laying a nice smoke screen all the way home as the fluid boiled itself on the exhaust.

That was actually easy to fix; my dad brazed the hole closed, then I slit open a piece of rubber fuel line to make an insualtor to keep it from rubbing through again. If you're no good at welding/brazing, making a patch from fuel line and plenty of hose clamps would have done essentially the same thing. (Did that on a fuel line once...)

It was almost as bad as the time that my oil filter started leaking in Dallas; I kept having to stop and put oil in every so many miles all the way back to Norman. Now that was a smoke screen.

 

[SOCSTP]

Power steering leak - worst fear

Thanks for the posts - worst fear realized, I took my 2001 LS to the dealer to assess the problem. Contrary to what two general mechanics said, that it was the pressure and/or return hoses. They said buy both hoses. At $85 a hose I was going to be in for $170 parts alone, and about $230 for labor.
I went to the dealer for the parts and they said they should look at it to be sure. They came back and said it was the pump not the hoses. Well I looks like I am in for $400-$500 if I am lucky.

Such as life - still love the LS.