When I got home yesterday, my wife Liz told me that the car made a strange whining sound when she turned left and it got louder the sharper she turned. (While replacing the serpentine belt last week, I had noticed what looked like oil leaking on the ground and resolved to get an idea what was wrong later this weekend.) So, I quickly jumped to the conclusion that the "oil" I had seen was power steering fluid and checked the fluid level first thing (8:30pm).

Sure enough, the fluid level didn't even register, so a quick trip to the parts store (since I didn't have any left at home) and I refilled the reservoir for a temporary fix until this weekend, when I can get it up on ramps/jacks to clean up the area and diagnose whether I have a bad supply (pressure) hose, return hose, or bad seal in the pump. As far as I know, these are the first three items to check. I prefer that it be the return hose as that'* the simplest to replace.

If anyone has any suggestions or heads up info, let me know. I'll keep you all posted once I get to it.

sounds like your right on track to solving it.

Finding the leak may depend on you thoroughly cleaning the motor first. Including (especially) underneath.

This is the only way driverjohn and I were able to track his leak down. His is one of the fittings on the bottom of the pump.

Right, thanks.

I know that I'll have to do that. I recently had to track down a power steering leak on my son'* car. Like you said, the only good way is to thoroughly clean everything first then start the car and turn the wheel a few times to see exactly what'* leaking.

As it turns out, this engine needs a good cleaning anyway ...

Most need to be cleaned when you first get them. Since you'll be underneath cleaning. One thing I do to make it easier is put it up on ramps and take off the front plastic splash shield under the front of the car, then you can gain access to the motor with the cleaner..

And being up on ramps you can clean the areas you need very easily.

Sounds like a plan...

Plus it looks to me that I should pull the passenger wheel and the wheel well plastic guard once I get down to the repair work. Looks like I'll get better access back there that way.

Oh..and the large steralite plastic storage container Jr'* always recommends for changing transmission fluid would also come in handy for catching any spillage.