2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission leaky mess: steering pump?

[purdytj]

Greetings all,

There is a leaky mess under the engine. I've had many seals fixed by The PowerShop (Enumclaw, WA - I highly recommend them) including front timing case cover, vacuum pump, oil cooler gaskets. (they also did my KDP. ) Now that I moved to Iowa, I miss my reputable mechanics.



There is a leaky mess coming from what I believe is the power steering pump. I'm a shadetree mechanic at best but I see that Geno's Garage now carries power steering pump replacements. I've put more pump fluid in before and the level is going back down. Do you think the leak is caused by a tired pump needing replacement? Is there another seal I'm not aware of? Can this be done by a shadetree mechanic in your opinion?



Thanks!

T. J.

 

[BarryG]

If it is the power steering pump I am unaware of a replaceable seal but there may be. I know I just changed mine with a napa unit and it was 70ish dollars. If you do replace the ps pump you will need a new vacumn pump seal as well. Gould gear sells a vacumn pump seal kit complete with dvd.

GOULD GEAR & ELECTRIC



The pump itself is no big deal. getting the vacumn pump off is while not that hard it is a bit of a pain due to some constricted space. The vacumn pump and power steering pump come off as one unit. A shadetree should be able to do it ok. It doesn't require any special tools. The vac pump is two bolts, oil line, and one more bracket by the ps pump if I recall. The ps pump is two or three bolts to the vac pump assembly and the two hose fittings. I may have forgot one but that is about it. Put it back together bleed the pump and that is about it if I am recalling correctly.



This was on my 01 if different year do not know for sure.

 

[JKosten]

Fluid that dark it should be engine oil and is coming from the vacuum pump.

Really common to have it leak. Also not bad to fix but not a lot of space as Barry said.

Also this should be under 12v engine section...

 

[ewcmr2]

Power steering hose looks like it has a drip forming. Clean it up and see if it's the hose or something up higher that is running down the hose.

 

[Rich M-37]

purdytj,

I orginally thought it was the vacuum pump seals, so I replaced them. I still had the leak I then bought a new PSC power steering pump. It fixed the problem.

Rich M-37

 

[GAmes]

That drip you have pictured is engine oil from the vacuum pump seal. About $11 from Cummins for the kit. A weak (tired) pump normally does not leak. If you are losing PS fluid, take a good look at the hoses out of the pump. They deteriorate over time and seep/leak thru the covering. There are other areas that will leak PS fluid also. The only way to find them is to clean the area completely and look. We could spend all week guessing where your leak is coming from, then still be wrong.