PAS fluid leak

[mikeh]

Out on a drive this evening, I pulled up, made a phone call and then headed off to hear something whining from the engine bay. A quick tug of the steering wheel and it's immediately apparent that it is the PAS. Reservoir is way below min and there is a puddle under the car with PAS fluid dripping out of the sump plug access hole in the under-tray.

Cue the AA who didn't really do much as I was outside of the 10 mile limit on my free policy, but he topped it up and gave me another 1.5L bottle of PAS fluid to get me home (Which wasn't needed).

Quite annoyed as the car had been almost too well behaved until now, so this is both a bit of a rant and a question;

Are there any common issues here I should be aware of? Can't see anything in the dark with the under-tray in place, so will have a better look tomorrow.

 

[marinemackay2003]

Usually leak around the pas pump area

check also the pressure switch area, it's on the pipes coming off the pump
think it's a green or White sensor

 

[stacky]

how loud the wine as cant tell as the wine from my gearbox or pas pump ? details amte?

 

[martin.riley]

Check the long hose from the pump, mine had a hole in it. Good luck, its a right prick to change if it is that!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mikeh]

Bit of a win today really;

Renault's fix - £250 pipe and gearbox off to fit it.
Mike's fix - £10 and an hour faffing about.

 

[Dave.]

lol i just had the exact same prob, replaced it with a genuine part, £300 later

at least i know it will last

 

[mikeh]

It went in the same place?

Those compression fittings are good for 2000PSI according to the hydraulics place I got them from. They use them on production stuff, so there are no worries about the fix lasting

 

[Dave.]

Fair play to you then, mine went at high speed at Donnington

 

[mikeh]

How did you end up over there, was it just the shock of the steering going heavy?

 

[Dave.]

so much fluid hit the exhaust there was loads of smoke and didnt want to coat the track in oil, plus i thought the grass would put out any fires lol

 

[stacky]

so what the sighn steering goes heavy all of a sudden and still able to drive when moving fine ? also how easy to fit is leaking from that union bolt off bolt on ?

 

[mikeh]

I noticed mine long before it ran completely dry with the whine. I called the AA, declined the tow and just got a couple of bottles of ATF from him.

I'm struggling to understand what you're trying to say there, but I cut out the leaking portion of the pipe and used those compression joints to put a new piece of pipe in.

 

[Mark-387]

lol i bet the to guys pushing loved u haha..... mines starting to go i have a 172 cup engine in a 1.2 shell but its leaking from the metal pipe just infront of the alternator

 

[stacky]

any idea how to check pas level as cant see colour change in bottle or fluid maybe its completly empty??

 

[Fred@BTM]

Renault's fix - £250 pipe and gearbox off to fit it

who said its a gearbox off job?? they on crack?

the pipe is £125+vat

I just did Dave's for him

 

[mikeh]

Very recently ex-Renault tech in a casual conversation.

£10 is still a better result (for me) than £150 + labour.

How long did it take, out of curiosity? Also, how did you get it off pump side? I couldn't see any easy way to get the pipe off the pump with the heatshield in the way.

 

[mikeh]

any idea how to check pas level as cant see colour change in bottle or fluid maybe its completly empty??

Open the lid and shine a torch inside, helps if it's at least a bit dark.

 

[Dave.]

It's a b*****d of a job, I don't think Fred enjoyed it!!

 

[mikeh]

I could see it would be, that's why I started looking for alternative solutions

 

[Fred@BTM]

custom made tool to get it off the rack, the rest is easy enough, just time consuming, took about 3hours and some lost skin

 

[Gray]

custom made tool to get it off the rack, the rest is easy enough, just time consuming, took about 3hours and some lost skin

Jewish method?

 

[mikeh]

Just realised, I meant to say rack not pump

3 hours isn't bad going though

 

[Fred@BTM]

Very recently ex-Renault tech in a casual conversation.

is that why he's an EX tech? Probably removed the engine to change the rear spoiler

 

[Tigger]

I'm having some problem as the OP but I can't see any leaks, was seeping from the cap the other day so cleaned it and keep watching it.

Any ideas? :S