power steering leak questions

[ishboo22]

So my power steering leaks, which itself is not the main problem.
it has been to 3 shops, 2 of which said it was the rack and pinion that was leaking. the other one said that it was just the hoses, and that it leaked down on to the rack, and thats why it looked like it was leaking from the rack.
i was also told by someone else, that it didnt make a lot of sense for it to be the rack.
My main issue is that if its just the hoses, i obviously dont want to spend the 700+ for rack and pinion. but i also dont want to waste the 1-200 for the hoses, if it is the rack.
so is there anyway i can figure it out for myself and be sure about the problem?
im not that car knowledgable, but im willing to read up and figure out what im doing. all i know is im tired of the leak, which has gotten worse as the weather has heated up(if that makes sense, or helps isolate the problem?)

thanks for any help

 

[ishboo22]

Anyone?
i realize its probably a pretty hard thing to answer without actually looking at the car, but i need to be able to figure this out.

 

[droppinbottom]

I am having a similar problem and I saw some power stering fluid at schucks that I am thinking about trying. It has a dye in it to help you find the leak using a black light.

 

[bomextalon]

ya your best bet now would be too probally just go to the nearest auto parts store and they should sell a die that you can add into your power steering that glows under a black light and that should help you isolate the problem.

 

[Ced]

I was having the same problems and i found out that the leak was coming from one of the nipple for a sensor. I went to a junk yard and replaced the bolt. I found that out by comparing my power steering whit some else's and the wire that was connected to the nipple was lying around .Maybe that your problem check and see where the leak coming from and watch out for your alternator it mitt get damage from the power steering leak.

 

[CruisinGSX]

Remember that gravity affects everything... Look at the p/s hoses and p/s pump for any moisture. If you see some, compare the feeling between that and the p/s fluid in your pump to make sure that's what it is. If you don't see any fluid there, look at the rack. Is there moisture on the boots of the rack?
Also, do you have the ability to get underneath the car? If so, then find something like a thin flathead screwdriver to poke a hole in one of the boots of the rack. If p/s fluid comes out of the hole that you just made, then you need a rack (which, btw, really sucks to install!!!).
Good luck in your search for the leak.

 

[ishboo22]

I have no way of getting under the car, other then just using the thing to change the tires and just crawling underneath. i dont have access to a lift or anything.
Ill try the black light thing.
im fairly sure its not coming from right at the pump, but i will check that.
how hard is it to get to the rack? easy enough for a car newb to get to it and look for the leak?

 

[Newlogics]

I have no way of getting under the car, other then just using the thing to change the tires and just crawling underneath. i dont have access to a lift or anything.
Ill try the black light thing.
im fairly sure its not coming from right at the pump, but i will check that.
how hard is it to get to the rack? easy enough for a car newb to get to it and look for the leak?

Before attempting a dye, make sure you clean hoses, arounf hoses and around rack well, so you can clearly see the new leak.