Driving home in bumper to bumper traffic on I4 today. Suddenly I hear a faint buzzy whining noise coming from the engine compartment. Finally get off the interstate and notice heavy steering and loud whine when turning. Great. Sounds just like every Foxbody I've owned.

Pop open the hood. Cap is still on, but it looks as if fluid spewed from under the cap. It is pretty dark, but from what I can tell no lines have blown. Powersteering level is a bit lower, but still within manufacture limits. I still have some power assist, but it is now very numb, relatively jerky, and a bit harder to steer. Any ideas what could have caused this? I'm thinking the power steering pump is failing, but I've never experienced one go out like this. Usually they deteriorate over time, not just go out suddenly one day.

Thanks for the help.

 

Hehe...mine leaks like crazy ....

 

check lines for leaks?

i'm replacing all my lines with brand new ones soon.

 

I'll check for leaks today under daylight. But would a leak suddenly cause fluid to be forced out of the cap? Prior to yesterday, not a single leak from anything under the hood. No leaky lines...nothing.

This is why I find it so strange the powersteering has a problem. Perhaps Nissan's develop problems quickly...I am used to a Ford giving warning signs with failing powersteering for years before anything actually brakes.

 

If your PS starts to leak and get low, than you get air in your system. The air causes the fluid to flow alot more, which causes it to flow over. Try addind fluid, rev it up, turn the wheel back and forth a few times....that's what i did

 

bah i had to replace mine with ss braided and a new pump, gotta spare if anyone needs one

 

This morning I was greeted by a nice slick of power steering fluid on the ground and a completely empty resivour (sp?). Today I just filled it up. Ran the car for a bit and turned the wheel back and forth. Then added more fluid. So far she seems to be holding fine.

I'm sure saying following statement will curse the situation....but the problem seems to have dissapeared just as quickly as it appeared. Everything is as it was before yesterday evening.

The fluid level was topped off the last time I check it (about 3-weeks ago), so I have no idea what could have happened. Perhaps as Charles said, maybe there was an air pocket somewhere. Guess I'll just see what happens over night, then decide what to go with next.

 

there is no excuse for p/s leaks.
once diagnosed.
god people.