New Rack & Pinion?

[pektel]

So, the warranty on my 2000 V8 is set to expire in 1000 miles. So I figured I should have the dealer give it a once over to fix whatever might be covered. From a previous thread, I found I most likely have VCG's failing, because of wet spots on the coil covers.

Brought the car in for oil change, and to check out VCG's. I specifically asked to check the VCG's. Just went to pick it up from the dealership, and they didn't check. They said that there is something withthe "steering gear" that is connected with a fitting to the valve cover, and that's what was leaking. Anyways, they are replacing my rack and pinion, some seal (I'm guessing this was the "leaking fitting" and doing an alignment - all covered under warranty, minus my 50 dollar deductible.

Do you guys think that this is indicative of what they diagnosed? This is what my passenger side coil cover looks like right now. They didn't even open up the coil covers to look underneath.

 

[Justin00LS]

The oil from a leaking valve cover gasket usually seeps around the valve cover and leaks at the bottom of the cover (by the manifolds). Yours appears that it is leaking from the top from the picture, which makes it seem that it may be from another source.

Obviously without opening the covers you can not see if it is leaking around the COPs. But if it leaks around the COPs, you will know it pretty quickly, because it will misfire.

 

[pektel]

That'd be nice if it wasn't the VCG's. I'd rather not tear the engine down myself. It appears that my gasket warranty isn't valid. Only on vehicles under 100K.

 

[rickztahone]

pull that side out. the passenger side isn't all that bad. the driver's side is a PITA. and just pull the coils and take some spark plugs out, preferably #1 and #2 since it seems to be on that side. it's worth it to just check it yourself since sometimes they want to avoid covering you with something like that.

 

[jlser]

Anyways, they are replacing my rack and pinion, some seal (I'm guessing this was the "leaking fitting" and doing an alignment - all covered under warranty, minus my 50 dollar deductible.

I had my 2001 V8 in a few years ago for a noisy power steering pump. The noise was very clearly coming from the pump, but they claimed it was the rack and pinion. The changed it, but not the pump. The next morning the noise was obviously still there so I took it back and they changed the pump which fixed the problem. I thought it was rather strange they chose to change the rack and pinion unit. I have to wonder if there is some defect with the original rack and pinion units and they are quietly replacing them when they have the chance and especially when the owner has warranty coverage.

 

[97stscaddy]

Go get a big can of degreaser. Spray the hell out of that whole side of the engine. Now wash it off. Wait and check it every few days to see if it comes back.