Power Steering Issues

[Cubx]

Tonight I hoped into the PT to go to the store. I noticed the steering was stiff. I've had a P.S fluid leak for a while now and usually when the tank gets low, I'll hear a noise. Not this time. So I refilled the tank and started the engine. Now I hear some sort of noise when I turn the wheel. The sound is sort of a tapping noise. I turned the car back off and checked the tank. Its empty. I've checked the hoses and cant seem to see a leak from those. I have a friend coming tomorrow to help with this. Bad part is, i had an hour drive for an orientation tomorrow.

Think maybe the pump has fried?

[cfm56doc]

Did your car leave its mark on the ground? aka a puddle of power steering fluid?

If you filled the reservoir and its already empty, you should be able to race back the leak based off of the spot on the ground and wet parts on the car.

[Cubx]

Yep, it's leaving puddles. I tried tracing the leak with no luck. I'll have to look in the morning when I have more light. But its seems to go completely drain as soon as I turn on the car. The noise its making is what's most concerning. It's not the usual grinding sound the car makes when it's low on fluid.

[chuzz]

Which side of the car has the puddle under it? If the drivers side, you may luck out and find out it's just the pressure switch. If the passenger side (like mine was) it might be a hose. Unfortunately for me, it was a seal in the rack and I had to replace it. Pain in the neck to do. I wouldn't do one for someone for less than $750. Good luck with it.

[Cubx]

I was able to crawl under the car some of the way. I've traced the leak back to the drivers side. The hose seems pretty lose. I can't tell if it's frayed or torn or what. Wont be able to do anything until I put the car higher. I have a friend coming by with a 1st year (preordered) PT Cruiser, to help me out. As many times as he's ripped that thing apart, he's practically an expert on PTs, lol.

[myckee]

Check to see if the pump, pulley and belt are coated with power steering fluid. If so, the shaft oil seal is probably finished and signals the need for a replacement pump.

[Cubx]

It was the hose in the back on the drivers side. Its in good shape, but i guess I ran over something and snagged it loose. I still have a small noise that's really concerning me though. Hopefully, i'll find out what it is tonight.

[chuzz]

Jack it up in the air with both wheels off the ground and turn the wheels from lock to lock. Take the top off the reservoir and make sure the fluid is full. This will help bleed any air out of that's trapped.

[Cubx]

Drove the car to Walmart, things were holding up pretty well. Then I could tell I was losing fluid. Popped the hood to refill... I forgot to put the darn cap back on the fluid tank. Luckily the cap was still sitting under the hood when I got to my friends house. Anyway, drove to a friends house. I was on empty again. Im guessing leaving the cap off put air in the lines and loosened one or 2 of the lines. So we traced the leaks to 2 lines. Both were lose. Now the back line on the drivers side has no clamp. It had a foam bushing, but no clamp. it just sorta fits snug. Im getting a clamp on there before it leaks again. Not sure why there wasn't one present. Also, the noise I was hearing was the heater. I didn't realize I had the heat on.... oops

[Cubx]

Thought I had the issue fixed. The damn rear hose popped out again.