Power steering fluid leaking - could the pump be bad?

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P Adhia - 16 Mar 2009 13:42 GMT

Hello experts,

I have 96 Nissan Quest which runs fine except -- it leaks power
steering fluid. I went to a local precision tune shop and on their
suggestion, I had them replace the lines. After a month I noticed my
minivan is still leaking the fluid, and I took it back to them. Now
they say, the pump must have gone bad between the time they replaced
the lines and the month that passed. They swear that their original
diagnosis then didn't indicate the pump was bad, just the lines.
Although I think, it is more than coincidence that the pump, which
worked for 13 years, just went bad after they replaced the lines and
that's the reason I fail to see any "effects of repairs done" (I feel
my van is leaking the fluid at the same rate)

My question to you experts are,

Can a bad pump leak power-steering fluid? I didn't use my van for two
weeks and it sill leaked fluid, so can a bad pump still leak fluid
when the car isn't running?

Secondly, how difficult is it to replace the pump? I am not a
mechanic, but, can a layman follow instructions and replace it? The
same garage shop gave me an estimate of 624$ for an original nissan
pump+labor. They don't install after-market pumps. My local autozone
shop sells one that works in 96 nissan quest for 165$ -- big
difference.

Any suggestions, advice, tips welcome.

Thanks

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me - 17 Mar 2009 05:17 GMT

>Can a bad pump leak power-steering fluid? I didn't use my van for two
>weeks and it sill leaked fluid, so can a bad pump still leak fluid
>when the car isn't running?

yes

>Secondly, how difficult is it to replace the pump? I am not a
>mechanic, but, can a layman follow instructions and replace it? The
>same garage shop gave me an estimate of 624$ for an original nissan
>pump+labor. They don't install after-market pumps.

WTF kind of shop is that? They only use original parts? That's a
ripoff.

>My local autozone
>shop sells one that works in 96 nissan quest for 165$ -- big
>difference.

If you are experienced with a wrench and have a manual, it's not too
bad. Can be messy though.

>Any suggestions, advice, tips welcome.

Get a shop manual and look over the procedure. See if you like what it
says.

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DemoDisk - 19 Mar 2009 06:24 GMT

> Hello experts,
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> Any suggestions, advice, tips welcome.

First piece of advice -- Don't go to Precision Tune. Find an honest
mechanic. It takes time and patience.

Repairing the things that mean a lot to you or affect your life
(heirlooms, major appliances, your house, your car, etc.) isn't like
shopping at Costco or Walgreens. Businesses that offer people easy,
convenient answers to their problems often just want to rip off the
unwary. So be wary! There are so many people who will charge for what
they cannot do or what does not need to be done. And I still get taken,
not least by Precision Tune. They were right around the corner, I needed
an oil change, and they had a special -- what could go wrong, eh? Oh
brother.... Sorry if I sound preachy, but I really care about these
situations.

Second piece of advice -- Get underneath your Nissan and try to pinpoint
the source of the fluid leak. Is the leak *actually from the pump* (real
bad) or could it be one of the power steering hoses (not so bad)? Is it
the pressurized hose or the non-pressurized one (supply hose / return
hose)? If it's the non-pressurized, as it was for me, you may be in luck
and just need a new, better hose clamp.

It may also matter how long you've had the leak. Do you keep the pump
filled up, or has it been so long the pump makes noise all the time?
Noise from a PS pump means expensive trouble if you let it go on and on.

Sparing you the details, I took my 93 Sentra to Vinny (no kidding there,
that's his name) because the DEALERSHIP's mechanic messed up. And
charged me for it too. Vinny saw that the dripping hose was a gravity
leak (non-pressured hose). A band-type hose clamp solved it.

HTH
JPM

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