Allright guys obvious question but i figured id ask anyways.
01 sport automatic 4.0
Leaking power steering fluid big time
Been refilling every other day. Goes in clear but leaking a rustic color. Seems its getting worse as the temperature goes down here in mi.
When looking underneath looks like bottom of pitman arm is wet.
So im guessing time for new ps pump, but what would cause the rust color?

 

Fluid on the inside looks rusty as well.

 

I'd guess that it's that color because typical power steering fluid is red.

It's coming out red because it originally had red fluid in it and there's still red fluid in the system and it's mixing together and coming out red.

Check all the lines. This could be an easy fix or it could be time for a pump.

The pitman arm being wet won't help narrow the search much at all since ALL of the PS components are directly above the pitman arm. You need to locate the leak.

A leak at that pace should be easy to find.

 

Ok. Ill see if i can inspect further. Ps fluid is red? The replacement im using is clear... Maybe im doing something wrong/using wrong fluid?
I feel dumb now.

 

A lot of people use trans fluid in the power steering. That is probably why you are seeing red coming out. Just keep using the clear power steering fluid once you get her fixed. You didn't do anything wrong with it.

 

Ok cool

 

Do you see bubbles in your resivor?

 

Just for reference the new Prestone PS fluid I got was clear. Never seen any red PS fluid. When it's old and dirty it tends to be darkish brown.

 

Very tiny ones yes. No problems with steering @ all though.

 

Yeah the pump might have blown a seal... Or you have a leak in one of the lines....

Were you able to trace down the location of the leak? The seal on my pump is blown on the back under side.

 

No i haven't yet. Ill try tomorrow to see whats/where is leaking.

 

Keep us updated!

 

Yeah so i got hels up with work n stuff but i think i may have located where my leak is coming from, from what i can locate every underneath this part is "wet". All above is dry. Looks like a seal of some sort?


Right where the arm connects to the pump. Doesn't seem to be leaking as of today and fluid was ok on the dipstick so

 

seal on the sector shaft. the box has to be torn apart to replace that

 

Just replace the steering box, way easier. Put the durango one in for more beef, should be able to get a good one for $100.