Power Steering Fluid Leaking ONLY when the engine is off.
02-11-2010, 09:30 AM
#1
April 2010 TOTM Winner
Thread Starter
Power Steering Fluid Leaking ONLY when the engine is off.
* Solution:
Replaced the Electrical Switch on power steering high-pressure hose.
It has been two months since I replaced this switch and my power steering reservoir is still full, I have not added any fluid at all.
Old problem:
My 1987 F150 4x4 had been leaking power steering fluid for a while.
After parked 15 minutes; fresh fluid would be on the cement under truck.
With the engine idling, a friend turned the wheels back and forth while
I looked under the front-end and no fluid would drip or leak out.
If I drove it everyday; I had to top-off the reservoir every 3rd day,
and with the reservoir full and parked for 3 days; I had to fill the reservoir
before I could drive it because it would be low and the pump would whine.
FINALLY, when I pulled the electrical connector from this switch;
I found power steering fluid inside the electrical connector.
The fluid was going through this Switch and leaking only when the engine was off.
Apparently, with the engine running, pump pressure sealed off the inside of the switch
and not allowing any fluid go through it.
NAPA Part # PS304SB $33.00 Hope this helps somebody!
Replaced the Electrical Switch on power steering high-pressure hose.
It has been two months since I replaced this switch and my power steering reservoir is still full, I have not added any fluid at all.
Old problem:
My 1987 F150 4x4 had been leaking power steering fluid for a while.
After parked 15 minutes; fresh fluid would be on the cement under truck.
With the engine idling, a friend turned the wheels back and forth while
I looked under the front-end and no fluid would drip or leak out.
If I drove it everyday; I had to top-off the reservoir every 3rd day,
and with the reservoir full and parked for 3 days; I had to fill the reservoir
before I could drive it because it would be low and the pump would whine.
FINALLY, when I pulled the electrical connector from this switch;
I found power steering fluid inside the electrical connector.
The fluid was going through this Switch and leaking only when the engine was off.
Apparently, with the engine running, pump pressure sealed off the inside of the switch
and not allowing any fluid go through it.
NAPA Part # PS304SB $33.00 Hope this helps somebody!
Last edited by 1987 F-150 XLT 4x4; 03-12-2010 at 06:49 AM. Reason: Changed the time frame from 4 weeks to two months.
02-11-2010, 11:35 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Long Beach Calimexifornia
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* Solution:
Replaced the Electrical Switch on power steering high-pressure hose.
Two weeks since I replaced this switch and my reservoir is still full.
Old problem:
My 1987 F150 4x4 had been leaking power steering fluid for a while.
After parked 15 minutes; fresh fluid would be on the cement under truck.
With the engine idling, a friend turned the wheels back and forth while
I looked under the front-end and no fluid would drip or leak out.
If I drove it everyday; I had to top-off the reservoir every 3rd day,
and with the reservoir full and parked for 3 days;
I had to fill the reservoir before I could drive it because it would be low and
the pump would whine.
FINALLY, when I pulled the electrical connector from this switch;
I found power steering fluid inside the electrical connector.
The fluid was going through this Switch and leaking only when the engine was off.
Apparently, with the engine running, pump pressure sealed off the inside of the switch
and not allowing any fluid go through it.
NAPA Part # PS304SB $33.00 Hope this helps somebody!
Replaced the Electrical Switch on power steering high-pressure hose.
Two weeks since I replaced this switch and my reservoir is still full.
Old problem:
My 1987 F150 4x4 had been leaking power steering fluid for a while.
After parked 15 minutes; fresh fluid would be on the cement under truck.
With the engine idling, a friend turned the wheels back and forth while
I looked under the front-end and no fluid would drip or leak out.
If I drove it everyday; I had to top-off the reservoir every 3rd day,
and with the reservoir full and parked for 3 days;
I had to fill the reservoir before I could drive it because it would be low and
the pump would whine.
FINALLY, when I pulled the electrical connector from this switch;
I found power steering fluid inside the electrical connector.
The fluid was going through this Switch and leaking only when the engine was off.
Apparently, with the engine running, pump pressure sealed off the inside of the switch
and not allowing any fluid go through it.
NAPA Part # PS304SB $33.00 Hope this helps somebody!
Last edited by ymeski56; 02-11-2010 at 11:53 AM.
02-11-2010, 04:59 PM
#4
April 2010 TOTM Winner
Thread Starter
[quote=ymeski56;395247]Impressive post. Infomative & well formated. Even the reverse formatting was refreshing. Kinda like the light at the begining of the tunnel, instead of the end! I officially take back 1/2 the bad things I've said about how my tax dollars are being wasted in the school systems! "All is not lost!" Now I want you to start working on the social security deficit. Note:The switch signals for a sliight RPM increase to offset the drag of the power steering pump under demand. Did you notice any difference in RPM fluctuation? If you disconnect it & drive, you'll see what I mean. It's actually tested during an Error Code scan.
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Thanks for the kind words and yes, now that you mentioned it,
the engine doesn't die when I back out of a parking space.
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Thanks for the kind words and yes, now that you mentioned it,
the engine doesn't die when I back out of a parking space.
. Might have to take a look at mine as it is doing the same as your's was doing.