mk2 pas problem

[bigbadpod]

Hi there, crackin site btw, popping my forum cherry wi this post so please be gentle. ..! rub ish time of year for this to happen but losing pas fluid like nobodys business. Can't see from where because of rain but pretty sure it s not the pump. Changed alt pulley as advised in previous posts but still getting squeak. Could fluid be leaking into engine somehow?

[Chrispb]

Hello and 

Finding where the leak may be is going to be purely visual so you will need to remove the undercover to reveal the steering rack, pump and pipework.
There is no internal connection with engine so can only leak externally.
Is the fluid getting onto the drive belt?

[Mirez]

Firstly hello!

Secondly, I assume you've confirmed its PAS fluid and not brake fluid?

Thirdly, as above, its a simple oval circuit. From the reservoir is go's along a pipe on the front of the radiator pack (not unheard or to corrode with stone chips), then its on to the pump, down to the rack and back to the reservoir.

[bigbadpod]

Thanks for quick replies guys, I've arranged to get car under cover tomorrow so hopefully will be able to pinpoint it a bit better. Defo pas fluid as I've had to top up reservoir more than once past coupla days (not bloody cheap that stuff either! ). As I said before I've changed alt pulley but still getting squeak when I lock steering. On previous post it was mentioned that tensioner is a two handed affair to budge, but I managed it fairly easily with one - could it be gubbed without being totally broken?. One last thing,  is it a total no no to mix different makes of fluid?  Got some dexron (?) atf from work as a just in case.

[Mirez]

The tensioner has a whoppin spring on it so unless you are Mr Muscle then it shouldnt be easy, but is doable with one hand and a large spanner.

Its not advisable to mix any fluid but its only coolant thats a serious no no to mix, pas fluid should, in theory, be ok if the grades are similar.

[bigbadpod]

Hello again and merry Christmas to all. Just to let you know that I found the source of my  leak, it's coming from the offside gaiter so seals definitely gone. Problem now is
a/ it's Christmas and I am working tonight and tomorrow night so have to keep using car
b/ it's Christmas so nobody else is working that could sell me a new steering rack
c/ its Christmas so I'm damn skint!
Going to try some of that there lucas power steering stop leak as a temporary measure. Anyone had any experience of this gunk? Worth a try at a tenner a bottle.

[Chrispb]

Think I'd be inclined to just keep topping up with the cheapest atf/pas fluid until I could change the rack.

[Mirez]

You need someone on an internet forum thats breaking an Alhambra...

[bigbadpod]

Hello again, and happy new year to all. A wee footnote to my post, finally got car mobile again with the help of a very reasonably priced steering rack from one of this forum's finest Was relatively easy to fit once I realised that dropping the subframe was pretty much essential...must say there were a few choise words being shouted until I came to that realisation! One piece of advice I would give to anyone else in this situation is to undo the 4 retaining bolts on the rack, then drop the back of the subframe. This makes undoing the hose connections just a teensie wee bit easier.

[Chrispb]