Just wanna confirm if this is a leak from the steering rack? This is on the driver side. Passenger side is a little moist but no leak. Can i still drive this thing or gotta replace the steering rack ASAP?
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Since its not leaking from the boots I think its either a loose PS high pressure line/bolt or maybe a slight leak in the line. I don't think its the rack given where its leaking.
Power steering line. High pressure feed/return lines in your case. They enter the rack on the driver side of rack. The high pressure feed is bolted to the rack with a banjo bolt and a crush washer. Those can leak sometimes. Otherwise, it could also be somewhere upstream from the banjo bolt, meaning it would be a leak anywhere in the High pressure feed/return lines. Usually racks fail on the inner tie rod seals, which soak the boots. Yours don't seem too wet which is why I don' think rack is bad.Whats a PS line?
Power steering line. High pressure feed/return lines in your case. They enter the rack on the driver side of rack. The high pressure feed is bolted to the rack with a banjo bolt and a crush washer. Those can leak sometimes. Otherwise, it could also be somewhere upstream from the banjo bolt, meaning it would be a leak anywhere in the High pressure feed/return lines. Usually racks fail on the inner tie rod seals, which soak the boots. Yours don't seem too wet which is why I don' think rack is bad.
Just to be more specific, remove the front (metal) brush guard as well as the plastic splash guard. Will make it easier to diagnose and need to be removed anyway for most repairs.Take the plastic skid plates off and take a picture.
Appears to be a fair amount of "red" colored fluid leaked out for the reservoir to still show full. #1-Is the fluid in your PS reservoir red (remove cap and check color on the indicator under the cap.) If #1 is yes, as others offered up; remove protective undercover and the front brush guard; spray steering rack with degreaser ( mix of Mr. Clean or some other dish or floor cleaner & water) pressure wash it and watch for leaks. #2 Check transmission cooler hoses as well.
What year is your 100? Helps to post all the relevant vehicle info in your sig line or your post.
Re- PS Fluid Color: Good info, so now we know PS fluid is clear- it's NOT ATF in your steering system and likely not the source of your leak.Latest development. Yeah my power steering fluid is colorless. And since someone replaced my radiator my mechanic said that that mechanic might have pinched some hose thats why the atf i leaking.
Re- PS Fluid Color: Good info, so now we know PS fluid is clear- it's NOT ATF in your steering system and likely not the source of your leak.
Red fluid: Transmission or Coolant. Both will feel slick- odor will be very different and easy to tell difference. What year 100? 02 (I think 02) & earlier have Transmission Dip stick making checking level (and smell) easy. There are two transmission cooler lines that are plugged into the lower tank on the radiator- and routed just below the steering rack held in place by a retaining hoop in the center of the brace- if they are just hanging loose and not tied back- this can cause problems. Once you remove all the undercover's & guards start tracing lines & hoses from the radiator outward and take some pics.
In unlikely case its coolant: dbl check your coolant res bottle just to see if there is fluid in it and what the color is. You can remove the radiator cap to inspect radiator fluid level cold (should be full right to the top of the neck).
how do i get a correct level reading? Should the vehicle be running? Or cold? I watched somewhere that tye vehicle must be parked in neutral or park to get accurate reading.