stsmith67

i just spent $1000 on a new steering rack and my 92 ls400 still leaks and blows white smoke at start up. Can anyone help me? I also had to replace my alternator because of the fluid leaking onto it.

steveski

Sorry to hear you are having this problem. Did your repair ship also replace the high pressure hose? I would call them and ask them as this is a common cause for leaks. Welcome to CL BTW.

LiCelsior

iTrader: (32)

ouch, rack wasnt the problem it was probably the hose as steve said.

vaughn37

as long as the power steering has a line going to the intake it is going to cause white smoke right?????.....you could delete that icv function......or leave it and add a catch can to catch the steering fluid before it enters the intake???.......also i zip tied a flat shield between my power steering pump and alternator to help with leakage

91LS400LEX

If you are getting smoke on startup, its your idle-up valve on the power steering pump. I had the same issue. We blocked it with a bolt, re-routed those vacuum lines and smoke stopped! I had a leak too, but it was from the return line on the back of the reservoir, but even that was not causing it to leak on the alternator.

Search that PS bible thread on here... there are instructions on how to do it. You do NOT necessarily have to remove the pump to plug that ICV valve, though some say you do. My dad did mine without doing it.

Good luck!

Cowanhts

If your high pressure hose is leaking, check around your area for a hose fabricating shop like hose-man, or an independent shop. I paid $120 for new fittings on each end (1998 LS) in Costa Mesa (CA) v. about $400 for a new hose.

Gordy35

I had the same problem, take a look at this link, this will fix your problem. It is probably the idle control valve that is attached to the P/S pump, if it is bad then it is causing P/S fluid to get into the intake manifold and the fluid is being burnt by the engine which is causing the white smoke.


https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...ing-bible.html

Garage7RP

iTrader: (1)

Mr. Hose is better than Hose-Man IMO.

stsmith67

thanks to all of you who responded. i took my car back the mechanic with a print out of the "bible" tread and now my leak has been fixed. The valve was worn out and the high pressure hose was cracked. $200 took care of the leak after I spent $1200 on the rack and a new alternator. Finding this club on line was the best thing I could have done!

deanshark

It's always a happy time when you get something fixed, especially when you spend sooooo much. This site IS awesome, as are all car forums. If you have a problem with your car, there is always more people who have had the same thing wrong. Too bad you spent so much on the rack though. At least you know you wont have problems with that for a while.

Thermactor

iTrader: (1)

What was the bolt's thread size and pitch? Was it 14x1.5?