[lexusk8]

This is for our '98 Corolla. Here is what happened: The car started to smoke heavily under the hood while we were driving in a parking lot. It was a white smoke, and smelled like burnt oil. Opened the hood, and here is what we found:

As you can see, there is a brown-colored fluid coming from the back of the head (shown by the thin yellow arrow). However, what concerns me is what appears to be fluid leaking from the thick black tubing with the metal fitting attached to it (shown by the thick yellow arrow). I wiped some of it off with a white tissue, and the fluid appears to be of a light brownish color. Can anyone diagnose for me what's going on and what's wrong here?

(FYI, I had the power steering fluid drained and refilled at the dealer 10 days ago, and I changed the oil 4 weeks ago).

 

[REN69]

Sounds like Toyota's red antifreeze to me, slight chance that it could be oil though. Is the car overheating? have you checked your oil/antifreeze levels? where does that hose go? could be either one of those leaks.

 

[baldmountain]

It's a bit hard to tell but that looks like the firewall in the background. I'd guess that the hose running to the heating core is leaking. Once you get some pressure in the hose the fluid is squirting onto the engine. You really need to see what is happeneing with the car running. But be careful. I once had a leaking gas line that was squiting fuel onto the manifold. It was amazing that the car didn't explode in my face.

 

[modestobulldog]

Looks like a high-pressure hose. My first guess in power steering high-pressure line (as opposed to the return line). My second guess is air conditioning line (I think there is some oil in the air-conditioning system). If it is the power sterring line, not that hard to change, i did it on a 97 Prizm with the Toyota 1.6 motor. Get a line / flare nut wrench if you don't already have one http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Hand+Tools%2C+General+Purpose&pid=00942012000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Wrenches&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
. You can buy them at sears, home depot or any auto parts store. Both air conditioning lines should be less than $50 at Kragen/Checker/Schucks or Autozone.

If it is the air conditioning line, take it to a repair shop.

 

[jzack]

Power steering fluid - keep an eye on the reservoir tank until you get a chance to get this fixed. It will get worse and make the engine bay a bit messier!

 

[lexusk8]

Well, I took the car out for a light drive last night, and didn't see any problems or smoking under the hood. Engine temp is at the normal level (never seen it waver past the midpoint). Although it may not be the direct source to the problem, I'll keep an eye on the coolant hose.

However, I've noticed that the power steering reservoir tank is damp around the outside of the tank. I wiped off the tank, and it appears that the fluid is coming from the power steering fluid. So now I'm wondering what is wrong the power steering fluid system. I checked the hoses from eye level, but there's doesn't seem to be any leaks. At this point, should I contact the dealer that changed the fluid a while ago on the car?

 

[diver9000]

Open the hood while someone sits in the drivers seat with the car running. Turn the wheel all the way the to the left and then to the right so as to put pressure on the power steering system. Once the power steering pump has semi-hard pressure applied to it, then see if your power steering hose starts to spray or leak. If thats the cause, its a relatively easy fix, just messy to clean up. While your under the hood check to make sure the PS cap and all connections are tight too.

 

[jzack]

The picture you posted is exactly where a power steering hose would leak -- that crimp metal fitting is what usually fails....

I wouldn't take this back to the dealer - find a local garage to servide it and save a few bucks (or do it yourself). I have a local garage here that allows me to buy my own parts and they do the labor -- much cheaper to order on-line than to have either a dealer or large auto chain (Goodyear, etc) supply the parts...

 

[bonnie*]

Fluid Leaks

I agree with REN69, It seems to be Toyota red radiator antofreeze. If so, replacement of that particular hose is very easy. Coz I fixed similar problem in my buddy's car. We replace the hose completely.

Check & monitor the level of Radiator Fluid (All fluids would be better option) and engine temperature gauge continuously. But, in some cases engine temperature gauge will not rise significantly coz still there is enough coolant present in engine block. Decreasing level of coolant will be perfect measure that hose pertains to cooling system.

Temporary you can cut the piece of hose where it's leaking take that piece to sears/home hardware/rona or any part store and buy similar oversize pressure hose with two pressure clamp fittings.

Permanently, and more safe to replace complete hose from bothe end. one end seems to radiator bottom while other may be engine coolant line or may be transmission coolant line.

reg,
bonnie*


MAKE SURE YOU PROVIDE YOUR COMPLETE FEED-BACK, ONCE IT IS FIXED.
Tks...

 

[diver9000]

Open the hood while someone sits in the drivers seat with the car running. Turn the wheel all the way the to the left and then to the right so as to put pressure on the power steering system. Once the power steering pump has semi-hard pressure applied to it, then see if your power steering hose starts to spray or leak. If thats the cause, its a relatively easy fix, just messy to clean up. While your under the hood check to make sure the PS cap and all connections are tight too.

Its the power steering hose.

 

[lexusk8]

Well evidently, it turns out to be power steering pressure hose that's the problem. I got my friend to turn the wheel while I was eyeing the hose, and I can see fluid slowly leaking out of the metal fittings of the hose as the wheel is turned. It looks like I'll have to replace the entire hose assembly (including the metal fittings and misc. hardware). That also includes flushing the old fluid out and putting in new fluid. The hose assembly should cost around $45-$55 at Advance Auto Parts, and 6 qts of PS fluid from the same store should cost around $22. Total parts cost, less than $80, and I plan to get help from my mechanic friend this weekend (I'll buy him dinner in return)

On a side, the Toyota dealer quoted me $512 for parts and labor for the pressure hose work. Unbelievable!

 

[Jonny Steele]

I agree with it is probably the high pressure hose for your power steering, do what they said above and watch the hose and fittings while you turn the wheel, watch for any leaks or spraying near any parts of those hoses, check the low side hose to, just incase, but if your car has no temp probs and your not low on atifreeze, its more than likley your p/s, ...P.S., that pic is of the power steering so im sure that is what is your prob.

 

[diver9000]

Well evidently, it turns out to be power steering pressure hose that's the problem. I got my friend to turn the wheel while I was eyeing the hose, and I can see fluid slowly leaking out of the metal fittings of the hose as the wheel is turned. It looks like I'll have to replace the entire hose assembly (including the metal fittings and misc. hardware). That also includes flushing the old fluid out and putting in new fluid. The hose assembly should cost around $45-$55 at Advance Auto Parts, and 6 qts of PS fluid from the same store should cost around $22. Total parts cost, less than $80, and I plan to get help from my mechanic friend this weekend (I'll buy him dinner in return)

On a side, the Toyota dealer quoted me $512 for parts and labor for the pressure hose work. Unbelievable!

:rockon: Yep, I thought so. But you shouldnt have to drain all the fluid unless it has become contaminated. If it has become contaminated then you would have to flush it from the pump as well. Just add the extra fluid you need. No point in making extra work for nothing.
Good Luck

 

[lexusk8]

Problem fixed

On Sunday, my friend and I went ahead and replaced the old hose with a new one bought from Advance Auto Parts ($58, plus 1 qt of Valvoline P/S fluid for $5). The entire job took about an hour to do. It wasn't that difficult at all; the only tricky part was disconnecting both ends of the old hose, which would cause the old fluid to leak out so we had to shift the drain pan to the right spots under the car. The new hose came with all the necessary fittings and hardware, so it was practically plug-and-play. Put in enough new oil to top off the reservoir tank, which came out to 1 quart (after starting the car and turning the steering wheel left/right to get the new fluid go through the pressure hose and into the P/S pump). I've double-checked the tube after driving the car around last night, and there are no leaks at the fittings or both ends of the hose, so it looks like I'm good to go