Possible power stearing leak??? Can't see a thing

[Guido0136]

Hello all:

1994 ATX with 204,000 Km's

Noticed some smoke coming from the engine area once engine hot. It has gotten worse over the past 200 km's. From the drips on the garage floor after it runs then sits, it looks very much like power stearing fluid.

While hot no drips hit the ground but what ever is dripping while running it is dripping on the exhaust.

The smoke looks to be coming from near the fire wall on the passenger side.
I have tried to see it dripping, but for the life of me I can not see any drips.
The CV boot on the passenger side looks wet, as well as other items in that area.

I'm fairly sure it the power stearing fluid, but am not totally convinced.

History: I bought the car in the summer and spent a while getting the oil leak fixed. There was oil in the plug wells and got that seal fixed. Also the previous owner said the water pump was replaced, so I'm guessing less than 3000K on the water pump. I have replaced the shifter assembly and will be getting the entire exhaust and O2 sensors replaced as soon as I have the $$$.

I have briefly searched the forums with some key words with out success.
What is the usual culprit , and if it is the pump is there a how to. I'm not a mechanic but have the time (not my DD) so I'm hopping to do this myself over the holidays.

Any help or HOW-TO's would be super!!!
Thanks,
G.

 

[SHO_ROLLER_2]

I have the same problem in the same place. I would say 90% sure it's the PS pump. The whole passenger side under the car has fluid all over it. Mine has been leaking for a WHILE and I just haven't had the money to fix it. I did my top and front 60K mile tune-ups (with the help of this awesome forum) on my car and I don't want to do the PS pump. From what I've heard, it's a real pain.

The service center here at work charges 2hrs so it wouldn't cost a whole lot. There is a How-To somewhere here but I don't have it handy. I'm sure somebody else will post it.

Tony:wave:

 

[rubydist]

The book says 3.3 hours for a r/r of the ps pump. Its mildly difficult, mostly because of the one bolt on the rear of the pump that is virtually impossible to get at.

fyi, the most likely culprit is the cam seal on the rear cam, behind the cam sensor, imho. If not that, there are 3 places on the pump that are possible leak points - the shaft seal, the outlet fitting, and the inlet fitting. My current 94 atx project had an awful ps leak, and it turned out to be the o-ring at the bottom of the metal fitting on the pump inlet. It had shrunk up enough that the oil just ran out of it at that spot! A new o-ring solved the problem, and it was much easier than changing the stupid pump.

 

[Guido0136]

What is the best way to know if it the PS pump or the cam seals? As I said I can not see where it is dripping from.

 

[elarm1]

The book says 3.3 hours for a r/r of the ps pump. Its mildly difficult, mostly because of the one bolt on the rear of the pump that is virtually impossible to get at.

fyi, the most likely culprit is the cam seal on the rear cam, behind the cam sensor, imho. If not that, there are 3 places on the pump that are possible leak points - the shaft seal, the outlet fitting, and the inlet fitting. My current 94 atx project had an awful ps leak, and it turned out to be the o-ring at the bottom of the metal fitting on the pump inlet. It had shrunk up enough that the oil just ran out of it at that spot! A new o-ring solved the problem, and it was much easier than changing the stupid pump.

x2 with this theory

 

[rubydist]

What is the best way to know if it the PS pump or the cam seals? As I said I can not see where it is dripping from.

You should be able to get a rag in there to clean off the cam sensor, all the way around. Once it is relatively clean and dry, you should be able to detect oil on it after driving a modest distance. If there is noticeable oil there right after you cleaned it, then that seal needs replaced. After you do that or determine that the seal is not leaking, then you can move on to the ps pump as the culprit.

Also, make sure that it is not the rear valve cover, since they tend to leak at the passenger end when they leak, for some reason - likely cause there are a zillion wires there to dribble on before it gets on the cats....

 

[Shoshone]

Is the PS fluid level low? That's a clue.

 

[J.L.Gordon]

Just did my p/s pump an hour ago.It took me 45min to replace it .first I unbolted the reservoir and bungee corded it up.then remove the cross over tank then the top cam cover then the 6mm bolt holding the harness over the p/s pump,then unbolt the upper and lower manifold bracket over the p/s pump.now with all the room use a 1/4" ratchet and 12mm socket to get the bolt in the back,pull the pulley and get the 3-12mm bolts in the front.lift the p/s pump out and remove the return hose.( I found the "o"ring on the top pipe blown out).

 

[Guido0136]

Hey guys, thanks so much for the info, but as I said, I'm a noob, I'm not sure what a cam sensor looks like or where it happens to be located. I luckily have a member holding a used PS pump just in case that is the issue. But as I said to him, I want to be sure that is the culprit before I go a change it.
If some one has pictures of this Cam Sensor and location I can go clean this off tonight and give it a spin to see if that is the issue.
Which of the two is more of a PITA, the cam or the PS?

Thanks guys for all the help!

G.

 

[J.L.Gordon]

If you stand next to the right side front wheel with the hood up put your hand on the leftside of the timing belt cover and look to the left of your knuckle's you"ll see the cam sensor with the oval shaped electrical plug on the top.I think its 2 -6mm or 5.5mm bolts holding it in place.And the p/s pump is under the cam sensor.

 

[stangeater]

Is the PS fluid level low? That's a clue.

My thoughts exactly

 

[Guido0136]

The PS fluid didn't seem to low the other day, but as soon as the leak become bigger I stopped driving it. I'll have to look again.
I'll have another look at it tonight if I get a chance.

Thanks again!

 

[RonJohn]

im have the same problem with my 95 atx.. just started yesterday... my wife calls me at work says the car smells funny.. told her to take it home.. when i got noticed spots in the driveway.. looked under the car seem to be oil all over on the pass. side on the cats and exhuast.. not power steering fluid.. havent got around to look at it any further.. need to clear a spot in the garage to tear it down.. the car only has 92k on it so im going to do the timing belt as well...hopefully i can fix the tensinor 2000 rpm noise

 

[JRA2000TL]

Well I guess that solves mine too. I knew I had a noisy p/s pump at all times and a small oily leak. P/S fluid was low and I refilled it with p/s fluid/stop leak. It seems to be holding fluid now but the car smells like burnt oil/fluid/clutch after it is driven. The pump is also covered in oily stuff. I know it's on its way out. I kept thinking I was smelling burnt clutch but it has to be that fluid. I can't tell from the driveway if the fresh spots are engine oil or p/s fluid as they're really small.

 

[itwonder]

Go to NAPA and get some leak detector dye for oil. Try a bit in your PS fluid. If you can borrow a black light that is best, but it can also be seen with the ***** eye; turns it a greenish tint.

 

[Guido0136]

Sweet I did not know about that. I'll check it out.
Thanks,

 

[RonJohn]

mine ended up being the front crank seal.. ended up doing the front 60k replaceing the cam seals.. i could rotate the seal in it place, when removed the seal was as hard as a rock... also this oil leak happend right after chaging the oil..normaly i run valvoline synpower they were out of it at wally world so i got mobile one oil...dont know if this has anything to do with it but now i got the synpower back in it..

 

[Guido0136]

I may not get a chance to trace this as its winter, so, as I still drive this on days when the road is free of salt and snow, I have put in a bit of seal conditioner. I hope this wet's it's whistle a bit until I can trace the leak.
G.