Massive Power Steering Pump Leak after Compressor Replacement
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 35
Likes: 6
From: Virginia
Massive Power Steering Pump Leak after Compressor Replacement
Hi all,
I replaced my AC compressor yesterday and drove it today to find that the power steering pump seems to have a major leak somewhere. Prior to yesterday, I had the slowest of leaks, like needing to top up once a year or less. Today, I couldn't even drive an hour after topping it up before it started whining and I could feel the lack of fluid when turning the wheel. All I did was maneuver the pump out of the way to get the compressor in and out. I didn't really mess with any of the hoses or lines. I did use the reservoir to handle it, so is it possible that I loosened the connection between it and the pump? If that's the case, I'd like to remove the pump and reinstall the reservoir properly to reseal the 2 together. Since I was gonna have it out anyway, I was planning on buying a rebuild kit and rebuilding the whole pump with new seals and gaskets. The kit I'm planning on buying has 4 o-rings, 1 big, 2 medium, and 1 small. Are any of those meant to go between the reservoir and pump? Is there even a gasket there at all? Just want to make sure I get the part I think I need before I buy the kit and take everything apart.
I noticed red fluid on top of the shiny new compressor yesterday and today, so I'm fairly confident the leak is at the pump area.
Thanks.
I replaced my AC compressor yesterday and drove it today to find that the power steering pump seems to have a major leak somewhere. Prior to yesterday, I had the slowest of leaks, like needing to top up once a year or less. Today, I couldn't even drive an hour after topping it up before it started whining and I could feel the lack of fluid when turning the wheel. All I did was maneuver the pump out of the way to get the compressor in and out. I didn't really mess with any of the hoses or lines. I did use the reservoir to handle it, so is it possible that I loosened the connection between it and the pump? If that's the case, I'd like to remove the pump and reinstall the reservoir properly to reseal the 2 together. Since I was gonna have it out anyway, I was planning on buying a rebuild kit and rebuilding the whole pump with new seals and gaskets. The kit I'm planning on buying has 4 o-rings, 1 big, 2 medium, and 1 small. Are any of those meant to go between the reservoir and pump? Is there even a gasket there at all? Just want to make sure I get the part I think I need before I buy the kit and take everything apart.
I noticed red fluid on top of the shiny new compressor yesterday and today, so I'm fairly confident the leak is at the pump area.
Thanks.
Driver
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 93
Likes: 10
From: MN
The rebuild kit is a good idea, and it will include the gasket between the reservoir and the pump, but you should triple check the lines. They can get brittle over time, especially the soft lines. The banjo bolts are worth checking out, too, make sure the leak isn't from there. Would really suck to spend all that time rebuilding it and then find out the leak was just one of the softlines this entire time.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 35
Likes: 6
From: Virginia
I forgot to come back with an update. I got the rebuild kit and rebuilt the pump with the help of my mechanic and reinstalled everything. I also replaced the return hose from the cooler to the reservoir and bled the system, all seems good about 2.5k miles and almost 2 months later.
I don’t know the exact source of the leak, but it was definitely my maneuvering.
Either way, all good for now.
I don’t know the exact source of the leak, but it was definitely my maneuvering.
Either way, all good for now.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post