97z28K&N

Hi, I am having an issue with power steering fluid loss. I cannot find out where the loss is as there are no oil spots on my garage floor. I noticed the belt squeaks every time I start the engine when it's cold, implying that power steering fluid got on it. This morning when I drove to school the pump was really bad. I got home and added fluid and it was fine, almost as if new. What gives? Could I be losing fluid from the pump only at higher RPM's? The pump (if its the pulley under the alternator) is dry as well.

1997 camaro z28

92Vette

The only way to know for sure what's going on is to get under there and look. Check the hose from the pump to the rack, they can be prone to leaking. Clean everything off and see where fluid is building up.

97z28K&N

Ok will do after school tomorrow. Just to verify, the power steering pump is directly under the alternator, correct?

92Vette

Yup. If you can get the front tires off the ground, have someone turn the wheel lock to lock a couple of times and see if you can spot where the leak is. How much fluid are you losing?

97z28K&N

I can't tell you a rate since I just discovered it today, but the reservoir was almost empty when I discovered the noise.

92Vette

Hmmmm... you definitely just need to take a look at it. It wouldn't hurt to replace some of the hoses. I say drive it as you normally would for a few more days and see how quickly the reservoir drains. It could have drained over time without you realizing it and recently for low enough that it started acting up.

97z28K&N

Well I don't think it has been happening for a while because I had the rack and pinion replaced a few months ago and I was told there were no leaks (it was replaced because it was leaking onto my garage floor). No problems or leaks until yesterday.... Weird.

My buddy who's a mechanic told me to turn the wheel all te way to the left and get under the car because that will put the system under pressure to reveal leaks.

I noticed my serpentine belt squeaking about 2 weeks ago, so it could have started leaking then. I'll look under it this weekend.

92Vette

Yeah, let me know how it goes. Take a close look at the hoses, the leaks could be very small on those

97z28K&N

Will do. Oh and one last comment.... Yesterday I needed to use the car to get to work after school, and the only fluid I had was Honda power steering fluid. I put it in and it worked well, but the fluid is a metallic yellow color and this morning I did notice some metallic yellow fluid on my wet driveway when I backed her out (I let it warm up with the wheel partially turned so it may have put enough pressure on the system to push some fluid out).

Sorry about the ranting, I'm just trying to add up the clues before I get underneath her!

Thanks for the replies.

92Vette

No problem! I'm not much of an expert on this stuff either, but I've been googling plenty to try to help you. Check out this thread, it may help: https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...ng-ground.html

If you get under there with a few rags and clean it up, then have someone turn the wheel until lock, you should be able to see where the leak is coming from. If things look old/crappy down there, maybe it's not a bad idea to get some new hoses, I can't imagine them being too expensive.

97z28K&N

Yeah, I saw a low pressure hose for $30, so if I can replace a few hoses while I'm at it I should be okay. And thanks for that link, but I replaced my radiator last month and there definitely not any power steering lines involved.

97z28K&N

I found the leak. It is leaking at the driver side rubber boot on the rack. What can I do to fix it?

92Vette

Is that a hose or is that where the ring is? If it's something you can replace for cheap, just buy a new one. I found this picture and I'm trying to figure out what you mean.... http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0883.jpg

97z28K&N

The accordion looking rubber boot all the way on the right side

92Vette

If the rubber itself it leaking, then you'll probably have to replace it. You could try using some sort of rubber material and plug the leak, but something tells me that wouldn't work due to the pressure. There may be a type of leak-plugger that you can mix in with the PS fluid.

97z28K&N

I might just have to replace the rack and pinion from what I've read online. There are absolutely no guides, though. I do however have a shop manual. It sucks because the rack and pinion was already replaced with a remaufactured one, which hasn't lasted very long.... Oh and I paid $700 for it to replaced! Never will I let someone work on my car again.

92Vette

Damn that's a lot of money! If you can do your own work then do, it'll save you SO much money. Labor costs more than the parts half of the time. Keep searching for replacements for the rubber boot though

97z28K&N

Well I found a lifetime warrantied rack on eBay so I think I'll do that! It's only $110, too!