Steering fluid!(??)-850

[SimLyons]

I am amonng the fortunate among us who manage a relatively dry a clean gragge floor. That is, without constant cleaning and degreasing. Until the past 2 weeks that is.

First, I thought I noticed a few water droplets collecting on one are of the floor. It had been rainy and I thouht "what the heck.." and wiped it up. But it didn't evaporate the residual dampness (remember, I live in near desert conditions). After repeated instances of the same stuff in the same area and sampling the feel, smell and lubricosity I deduced it was not water, not coolant, not lube oil, not transmission fluid and PROBABLY not brake fluid (no smell and different texture).

So..... I think it must be steering fluid, and I think it must be coming from the rack. But with the rain, snw, etc I can't find the source. Everything is sort of wet.

Does this bode ill for my rack? For my budget (What budget, my wife says!)? Any ideas where to begin? (The fluid reservoir has lost about 1 inch in 9 months.)

Sim

[Thomastalan]

If it were my car I would start at the pump and work my way down, look at the high pressure line and the return line, look where the lines going to the rack, I check the boots on the rack to see if they're in good shape. if you look at all those places if it's leaking you will find it.

[erikv11]

Presumably you will find the leak before moving ahead but even if you don't, slow leaks in the rack respond very well to high-mileage ATF (PS fluid on these cars is Dex III or better ATF, not "PS fluid"). Or if that doesn't help, use Lucas power steering goop.

Ozark Lee posts a lot about this topic as he has done both methods, do a search for his responses you will find some great advice.