Hey, once again HELP! Now a totally new problem. Last night it was 52 below zero. Not exagerating! That was with a wind chill but who cares. It was cold. After driving about 4 miles from home, I noticed a smell sort of like oil but slightly more chemical. When I went to Parts Source the mechanic there thought it was the dip stick gasket in the oil sleeve. Then he looked around the power steering resevoir and found that it was probably that. The gauges were all normal. Oil, battery and engine temp. I added power steering fluid but it was stiffening up after about a hour of driving home. The drip stops when the van is parked and shut off. The drip when it is running is like a dripping sink faucet. When I checked what the price of the replacement hose was it was a whopping $66.00, for a hose! Is this hard to fix? I haven't got my Haynes Manual yet. Is there another way to repair this without using the stock hose and maybe using a hardware store product. Is is specific? Help. and thanks in advance again! By the way, for those of you who helped with the last problem. A new negative battery and a new battery with 950 c.c.a. solved my problem. Thanks.

 

you gotta be more specific were is it comming from ...i dont know of any hoses for power steering ..
Let us know

Thanks

DOM

 

It is probably in fact your power steering hose. I know on my dad's 89 F150 the power steering hose also has some kind of sensor on it which may be why it costs so much. You better get that fixed ASAP because if you don't and you run low on power steering fluid your pump is going to be wrecked. I would check my fluid level at least once a day to make sure it doesn't go down too far. Good luck!

-Matt

 

Hammerhead,

Check the pressure hose at both the pump connection and the rack/pinion connection. Also, check the return hose for leaks. This is the hose that enters the pump from the bottom and is secured with a clamp similar to a radiator hose clamp. From your description, it sounds like you have a leak on the return hose rather than the pressure hose, but check both.

These hoses are expensive because of the type fittings that are used. When properly tightened the hoses can move around the fitting. Seal is maintained by teflon seals and, in some instances, by an O-ring at the connector. Check the fitting to see if the leak is from the connector side of the fitting or if it is from the center of the connector where the hose goes into the connector. If it's leaking from the connector side, it's a bad teflon seal. If the leak is from the center of the connector, it's a bad O-ring.

Recently, when I had to replace my rack and pinion steering, the replacement came with new teflon seals, but no O-rings. (I have a 92 3.0L) Replacement of the teflon seals is easy, but care must be taken not to break them. You must soften the teflon seal in hot water first, then stretch it to the proper diameter to slip over the threads of the fitting. I used the handle of my wife's rolling pin (as it was tapered) to stretch the seal, but any tapered tool will work. Keep heating the seal in hot water and stretch it a little at a time to avoid breaking it. As it cools, the teflon seal will shrink slightly to form a tight seal with the fitting.

On the O-rings I have not found a way to replace them yet. Although in another post I read where someone had been able to twist the fitting off enough to get to the O-ring. Haven't tried this myself, though.

Ron

 

I just replaced my power steering pressure hose, got one from AutoZone for about $20. Return line is just ordinary 3/8" hose. $66 is too much even in Canadian $$.

John