Phantom power steering leak

[97prizm]

Hi All,
So apparently my neon has a small phantom power steering leak, yet see no sign of staining or leaking. Up until late July/August of this year no issues then I noticed it was low. I topped it off not thinking about it. Yesterday I noticed a moaning power steering pump. I looked in the reservoir and it was quite low. I've never had a vehicle that ever had any issues with the power steering system. Is there a dye or good way to trace where the leak is? Thanks.

 

[zfasts03]

i have this with my 06 Odyssey. I just top off when needed.

 

[D60]

Sure, if you can't see any residue that's suspect you can put some dye in the system. I'd reco getting a good UV light -- some are better than others. In this case good doesn't necessarily mean expensive-- usually just more....bulbs? diodes? ‐‐ I don't know

 

[supton]

Rack and pinion? Could it be leaking out the rack into the bellows on the rack, whatever the ends are?

 

[JavierH19]

How long does it take for it to seep out time wise? You almost never see a sudden blow out of any seal so that's not a danger. You can just top it off with some stop leak power steering fluid. This is what i use and it reduced my old trucks seepage to <1oz a year. Still on the original pump and rack after 341k

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Te...6?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1200&from=/search

 

[GSCJR]

Rack and pinion? Could it be leaking out the rack into the bellows on the rack

+1

 

[97prizm]

Rack and pinion? Could it be leaking out the rack into the bellows on the rack, whatever the ends are?

Is there a good way to check this? I.E power wash the underside at a car wash and see if fluid is leaking? It's weird, not an oz drop in the 5ish years that I've owned it and then all of the sudden.

 

[97prizm]

How long does it take for it to seep out time wise? You almost never see a sudden blow out of any seal so that's not a danger. You can just top it off with some stop leak power steering fluid. This is what i use and it reduced my old trucks seepage to <1oz a year. Still on the original pump and rack after 341k

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Te...6?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1200&from=/search

I noticed recently that the cap seems like someone changed it out as it isn't tight. I topped the ps reservoir off in early August of this year then yesterday on my way home the ps pump was louder than usual. I pulled into Autozone and sure enough it barely had any fluid in it.

 

[TheLastWord]

Whatever you do, DON'T use Lucas stop leak PS fluid.

 

[JavierH19]

Whatever you do, DON'T use Lucas stop leak PS fluid.

Was it the normal bottle of thin ps fluid or the oil stabilizer shaped ps fluid bottle? Bad experience from using it? did the seals rupture right after or something?

 

[Nukeman7]

i have this with my 06 Odyssey. I just top off when needed.

Get underneath the van and take a close look for P/S fluid leakage in the left front corner between the radiator and the transmission. I chased a P/S leak in my buddy's 2006 Odyssey Touring for several months before finding the slow leak coming from a 10" long pre-formed rubber return hose. The rubber had degraded and swollen up causing the P/S fluid to leak from the OEM wire hose clamped ends. I replaced it with $4 worth of generic bulk P/S hose and two high pressure fuel injection clamps because the MSRP for the Honda part was $45. You will need to partially remove the plastic undercarriage liner to access it for replacement.

 

[supton]

Is there a good way to check this? I.E power wash the underside at a car wash and see if fluid is leaking? It's weird, not an oz drop in the 5ish years that I've owned it and then all of the sudden.

Not sure, seems to make sense, good wash if it's oily already.

If it's in the bellows I'd think they'd feel weird, but it might be too hard to tell.

 

[zfasts03]

Get underneath the van and take a close look for P/S fluid leakage in the left front corner between the radiator and the transmission. I chased a P/S leak in my buddy's 2006 Odyssey Touring for several months before finding the slow leak coming from a 10" long pre-formed rubber return hose. The rubber had degraded and swollen up causing the P/S fluid to leak from the OEM wire hose clamped ends. I replaced it with $4 worth of generic bulk P/S hose and two high pressure fuel injection clamps because the MSRP for the Honda part was $45. You will need to partially remove the plastic undercarriage liner to access it for replacement.
View attachment 249265

thank you!