2004 S60 Power Steering Leak

[cn90]

...I would do it myself, but live in a city and park my car on the street. I don't have tools such as hose clamps and such. Also it is very cold outside...

No big hurry, you can do this in the Spring when the weather is better.
I used to live in Queens NY so I understand.

Best is to buy some basic tools.
In fact, this job requires nothing more than a screwdriver.

NAPA carries Pentosin (if your car requires Pentosin). It is about $20/1L.
The PS reservoir, buy it at online Volvo dealer (Volvo dealer also sells on ebay).
Then do this job on a warm day in the parking lot of NAPA, this way if you need any odds and ends,
the NAPA store is right there.

[cn90]

- Don't buy aftermarket stuff!

- Stick to Volvo OEM reservoir, FCPEuro has it for $68 with LT warranty.
- Check the chassis number to buy the correct PS reservoir.
- FREE shipping when your order is > $49:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/Volvo-parts/S60 ... 279&e=2105

[June]

Mine was replaced with genuine Volvo parts by my dealer. So I agree Genuine Volvo only on the reservoir. June

I added the line off my bill. $171 parts and labor.

[E Showell]

If you don't mind a trip to Jersey, I'll help you change it. Half hour job if we really take our time. I'd even let you buy me a beer at the local brew pub, but I'm not free 'til after Valentine's day.

[cn90]

...so from the above conversation, I'm planning on replacing the PS reservoir - it looks like that's definitely the problem according the picture, right?

Which round short hose are you talking about - would you happen to have a link to the part? Is this also easy to replace? How much do you think the labor for the reservoir and short round hose behind the engine block would be?

- The PS Reservoir job is soooo easy, anyone can do it with a screwdriver.
Youtube has video on it.

- Since you need to add coolant, you probably have a slow leak somewhere:
1. ? Heater Core
2. The short round hose is known to leak with age.


- Below is a photo from a 1998 S70 just to show the "Turbo Coolant Outlet Hose", Volvo PN 31439471 ($8 at FCPEuro):




PS: May want to look into Timing Belt DIY, given that the car is 15y/63K. Isn't owning a car fun?

[abscate]

Sticky pocket...we've got a couple of good DIY guys in Queens if you search the forum. Use the PM button to see if they can lend a hand.

It's a great simple job you can do in the street, you need a catch bottle to catch the power steering fluid that will run out, and paper towels to catch the drips. You need a good Hose clamp on the power steering lines, a hardware store one will seep. The ABA brand are my favourite, the band is closed do it puts pressure on the hose without cutting into it.

For now, take a paper towel and wipe up all that PS fluid and see how long it takes to come back. It will wait for a warm day!

Don't worry about that small hose for now either. I ran my original Volvo coolant hoses 20 years /160k miles. They are very high quality rubber and last a long time. When you get your " car buddy" to with with you, s/he can inspect them and decide on replacement schedule

[oragex]

Can also get a used genuine reservoir from Ebay, junkyards.. look for the one with the return hose at the top (there are two types), and keep the older cap for spare. When lifting the reservoir, if moving the coolant reservoir as well, disconnect first the electrical connector that goes from the bottom of the coolant reservoir. To top up the coolant, use Distilled water instead (Walmart pharmacy for $2), no need for coolant if just adding a little. Better not use coolant because you don't know what is in there and better not mix coolants. No tap water in there, important

P/S fluid should be green-ish (Pentosin as mentioned) otherwise flush & replace

[cn90]

The short round hose ($8) leaked at 18y/170K in my 1998 S70. It was a pinhole leak!

[EngineeringBloke]

In June's photo of her PS reservoir, you can see the clip that holds it to the coolant tank. From the side, the clip looks like:
.___
| ....|
| ....|
| ...<

(Ignore the dots - the picture was not displaying correctly without them.)

You just need to direct a flat head screwdriver at the notch on the bottom end of the clip, while gently lifting on the reservoir, so that the clip is freed from its mounting on the coolant tank. You can get at it from above, at an angle. Only deflect the end of the clip a little so it does not catch, and does not break either.

[StickyPocket]

Wow, thanks everyone for all your help/advice. I stopped getting notifications for this thread for some reason and missed a bunch until now. I ended up buying a new Volvo reservoir and 1L of Pensin CHF202 from fcpeuro, and found a guy with good reviews that replaced it for me for $65. I definitely want to get into more DIY stuff, so will be thinking about getting some of the basic tools that i'm lacking.

Anyway, I was just checking everything out today (just got it done today), and it looks like there is yet another small leak coming from the P/S system. This one from the hose that goes from the P/S pump, towards the front of the car and then down. Picture attached. It looks like it's not a fresh leak, and not a big one either. Do you guys think this is worth replacing as well?