A few lil problems: Power Steering and idle

TurboDomestics · 05-23-2005

Ok, a couple of days ago the power steering in my car worked fine, then i wake up in the morning to go to school, and its crazy hard to move the steering wheel, but im already late for school so I just drive it anyways, then when i got to school, I checked the PS fluid resevoir and its drier than the sahara in there, so when I got home, I fill it up with ATF, and I take it around the block, still no PS, so I park it and check again and all the fluid was gone, so I checked all the lines, and there werent any obvious leaks but i can see the ATF drippping from the support beam right below the gear box assembly on the passenger side.
Cliffs Notes:
1) PS works fine.
2) No PS in the morning.
3) No Fluid in the reservoir.
4) Fill the resevoir with ATF
5) Drove around the block.
6) Still no PS.
7) Again No fluid in reservoir.
8) Fluid dripping from a support beam on the passenger side underneath the gear box.

What can this be?
Hopefully this will be easy and cheap to fix!!

another minor problem I have is, whenever I start the car cold or semi-cold it wont idle, and if it does idle it surges from 900 rpm - 400 rpm, until I drive a block or so and then it idles fine.
what could cause this?
this isnt as annoying as having no ps, and I can live with it if its a problem by itself and not a symptom of a greater problem.

thanks sooo much!
-Charlie

unreal808 · 05-23-2005

The PS fluid could be leaking from the rack housing in to the bellows/ boots for the inner tie rods.
The idle problem could be so many things, like a dirty TB housing ie IAC, or a VAC leak or a bad MAF and so on.

slowbubblecar · 05-23-2005

you could get rid of the PS and gain some more horsepower. Ask mike about that one.

TurboDomestics · 05-23-2005

thanks for posting!!
im not too worried about the idle now, id just like to be able to steer w/o getting a workout! Im a little guy!
Tomorrow ill get under there and take a few pics of what I see, and post them for improved e-diagnosing.
thanks again

TurboDomestics · 05-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghettostyle

you could get rid of the PS and gain some more horsepower. Ask mike about that one.

no, Id rather keep it, PS is so much nicer for my only everyday car,

unreal808 · 05-23-2005

Feel the bellows, if thay are to soft and Sponge thay could be full of PS fluid/ATF.

TurboDomestics · 05-23-2005

^will do.

unreal808 · 05-23-2005

I’m a fan of creature comforts as well, keep the PS. Hell.. I’m hooking up auto dimming mirror as soon as I find the reverse wire.

TurboDomestics · 05-24-2005

Heres where I think the leak is coming from, from that little line on the other side of the T-case, and that support beam.

heres a closer look:

any one know how hard it is to replace, and more importantly where can I get one?

thanks
-Charlie

unreal808 · 05-24-2005

That is called a feed tube, There are two of them and "should" be available, but if thay are not, than you could fabricate or replace the hole thing (rack).

Wizard · 05-25-2005

Mine was doing the same thing. Said screw messing with it and went to a manual rack. IMO, is much better. More room, less weight, 1 less belt, 1 less fluid to check, and with a 14-15" wheel and 225/50r16 tires, not a problem steering it. Not even sitting still. And feels much better at speed. Not to mention, manual rack turns sharper.

Either way, that sucker has got to come out to repair/replace it.

Wiz

TurboDomestics · 05-25-2005

does any one know, if I take all the PS stuff out will it drive like it does now with no fluid? or will taking the (currently) non functional stuff improve how it steers?

because i really dislike how it drives now.
so the whole rack needs to come out?

Wizard · 05-26-2005

Elimanting the PS out of the system (ie, draining the fluid and looping the lines) is very similar to a manual rack. Of course my manual rack is a bit easier to turn, by looping the lines, it will def. be a lot easier than having it all hooked up and no fluid or a bad pump.

Wiz

TurboDomestics · 05-31-2005

Well i ended up taking it all out, and tomorrow im going to loop the remaining lines, and fill it up.

And to be honest I really like the way it drives now, that i have taken all the components out.
I can feel how the car is cornering, I like it alot

Kougar · 06-01-2005

**useless comment**

Damn...i've never thought of eliminating the PS to get rid of the leaks, ha! My beater is leaking PS fluid, perhaps I'll simply tear it's guts out

TurboDomestics · 06-01-2005

do it!

its better w/o PS