Power Steering Fluid Leak - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

fireitup · 02-10-2009, 07:57 PM

On my 1998 Camry 4cyl, my power steering fluid is leaking out somewhere. It is going at a pretty good rate, and it leaks even when the engine is not running. Don't know whether it is a leaky hose or the pump is going out. Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this problem?? Thanks

***Eye8Pussies*** · 02-10-2009, 08:14 PM

yes....jack up the car and take a look at which area it's leaking from to start narrowing down the leak

fireitup · 02-10-2009, 09:51 PM

Simple enough... Anything beside fluid pouring out that would signal that the pump is faulty? I will clean everything off and check it this week. Thanks

fireitup · 02-14-2009, 07:25 PM

I jacked up the car this weekend and checked all the rubber hoses in the power steering system. I removed most of them and checked for leaks (in water while blowing into one end), and they all seemed to be fine. I did find one of the lower screws on the pump housing loose, and re tightened it. I think this may have been the source of the leak. I filled it back up this evening, and am hoping the leak is gone!

Jimnist · 02-15-2009, 02:14 AM

Did u remove the high pressure hose? If so, did you replace the gaskets on each end?

If the pump was faulty, i would assume the steering gets heavy or a fluid leak is apparent when looking at it (from under the car).

fireitup · 02-15-2009, 10:58 AM

No, i did not remove the high pressure hose. THe steel did not look damaged, and the leak seemed to be coming from the vicinity of the pump.

Hajoca · 02-15-2009, 02:33 PM

What fluid did you use for top up?

I flushed the old fluid of my 98 and refilled with DEX 6 ATF in 2006 .... thinking that the thinner fluid would be good. Then it leaked in 08.
I used Lucas power steering leak stop summer of 2008 for my 98 camry and have been impressed so far.

For my 00 Camry, I used Walmart's (Canadian sourced) power steering fluid. It is a bit higher viscosity than Dex 6. But I have had no problems what so ever with the power steering.

fireitup · 02-16-2009, 01:04 PM

I use the AutoZone brand fluid to refill the system, but it still seems to be leaking.

I cleaned all the hoses and pump as best I could when working on it last week, so I am going to jack it up again tomorrow and see if I can pinpoint the leak. I still think it is coming from somewhere in the pump, but we'll see. I don't think the pump is faulty though, because the steering is smooth as silk.

I will also try the Lucas stop-leak and see if that helps.

fireitup · 02-17-2009, 01:04 PM

After jacking her up this afternoon, I discovered a drip leak coming from the passenger side steering gear boot. The fluid seems to be coming out of the actual boot, but I cannot see the power steering fluid line fittings very clearly. It could be leaking at this connection and then dripping down on the boot.

I have not tried the Lucas yet, but once the reservoir gets low i will add it in and hope for the best.

If i remove the steering gear boot, will it damage it? I would like to get that out of the way and see whats going on inside(if the Lucas does not work). Thanks for the help all

fireitup · 02-17-2009, 01:59 PM

Ha seems that my car is jealous of me spending so much time on these forums!

I was reading a thread concerning a (suspected) oil pan gasket leak earlier today just for kicks, and when i was running the engine while up on the jacks I NOTICED A DRIP COMING FROM MY OIL PAN GASKET! This will have to be a project for another day...

angel_rolla · 02-17-2009, 09:04 PM

i used to have leak that i noticed before 2009 then i used this power steering leak stop and the leak is gone.

Jimnist · 02-17-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireitup

If i remove the steering gear boot, will it damage it? I would like to get that out of the way and see whats going on inside(if the Lucas does not work). Thanks for the help all

Umm....i don't think so, but if you were to remove the dust boot, you may as well replace it with a new one. You need to remove the tie rod end to get it off (at least).

There was a guy here with a gen 4 (iirc) and had a similar problem; leaking power steering system that was coming from the boot. He thought somewhere else was leaking and dripping onto the boot. However a seal in the steering rack died, which filled the dust boot and was overflowing out of it. He ended up replacing the whole rack which seemed to be a huge PITA compared to my Gen2 XD. There was a thread in this section not too long ago, search for it

***new echo owner*** · 02-17-2009, 11:43 PM

There shouldn't be any fluid inside the inner tie-rod boots unless there is an internal leak in the steering rack.

N.E.O.

DrXenon · 03-30-2009, 06:43 PM

On 1997 Camry LE I4 210,000 Km (131,000 miles). Symptoms slow leak on drivers side of steering rack, also a slow leak from drive shaft seal where it enters differential. Replaced steering rack and tie rods with rebuilt and put in new axle seal (drivers side). Total cost $864 Cdn (US $682) total labor 4.3 hours.

laurelcm · 05-31-2010, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrXenon

On 1997 Camry LE I4 210,000 Km (131,000 miles). Symptoms slow leak on drivers side of steering rack, also a slow leak from drive shaft seal where it enters differential. Replaced steering rack and tie rods with rebuilt and put in new axle seal (drivers side). Total cost $864 Cdn (US $682) total labor 4.3 hours.

Hi
I also have a 1997 Camry XLE with 95,000 KM - same symptoms - I was told it was the same problem (steering rack)

Can you tell me why the entire steering rack needs to be replaced? I have topped up the PSfluid twice over the past 6 months - for a total $12 - so I'm thinking...at $25 per year - it will take me 40 years to justify the $1000 required for the repair.

Will my power steering fail if I don't replace the rack?

Thank you!!