Power steering fluid is going back into the reservoir and it is leaking under the cap

Tiny
RFTS10
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 LEXUS ES 300
  • 3.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 169,000 MILES
I have a power steering problem. It looks like fluid is returning into a reservoir making a bubbles and leaks under the cap and pump is making ugly noise before it has warmed up.
Tuesday, December 6th, 2016 AT 6:11 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Make sure power steering pump is full then try bleeding air by turning to lock one way and holding for thirty seconds then do the same in other direction. Do this five times then check fluid and only use power steering fluid not transmission fluid. It may be the valve in pump making noise though.
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2016 AT 7:11 AM
Tiny
RFTS10
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I m back with a power steering problem, after solution I got didn't solved the ps leak. This time I'm going to get more info to you. So, four months ago PS pump replaced, noticed leak, two weeks later cooling fan replaced, leaking again, return car back to shop and they replaced ps pressure hose after couple days notice a leak again more and more I used car some time with leaking fluid every time I drive so finally went to a toyota dealer for check up, they told me its a ps return hose leak I looked it couldn't notice it's leaking. When I turn the car on ps fluid into reservoir start bubbling so much, going up to the cap and spilling out under the cap, seem happened after I try bleeding air
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Monday, December 12th, 2016 AT 5:34 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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It sounds like you have a power rack and pinion selector valve going out and it is blocking the flow of the fluid. This happens after the pump goes out because of the metal from the old pump gets stuck in the valve.
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Monday, December 12th, 2016 AT 9:10 PM
Tiny
RFTS10
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If this is a problem what is a solution to fix that?
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Tuesday, December 13th, 2016 AT 5:11 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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  • 47,320 POSTS
You must replace the rack and pinion.
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Tuesday, December 13th, 2016 AT 5:22 PM
Tiny
RFTS10
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Is the shop that replaced ps pump to blame for this happened r they respanseble for?
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Monday, December 19th, 2016 AT 4:17 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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  • 48,601 POSTS
Something like this I would say no due to it being the rack and not the pump if it was doing the same thing.
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Monday, December 19th, 2016 AT 4:58 PM
Tiny
RFTS10
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Hi, I m back again with a same ps problem and another information that can halp to solve it. So I did take a look at this one more time and I notise that all this happening only when the car is cold, after car wormed up and iset a fluid to normal level everything looked normal drived car for a few miles turn it off for one hour than drive again a few miles check fluid level was fine and no bubbling at all time, but in the morning turn the car on check, all same problem again.
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Thursday, January 5th, 2017 AT 7:33 PM
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
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The "owners" of this site have chosen to screw the experts that are NOT volunteers by paying them $.50 per answer. They are operating out of Dana point in Ca. And that can't be cheap, but they are!
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Thursday, January 5th, 2017 AT 7:53 PM
Tiny
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I m not sure what is all this mean u talking about
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Friday, January 6th, 2017 AT 2:47 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Disregard what doc haggerty says. It probably is still the rack gone bad it's the part eh column connects to and goes to turn the car.
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Friday, January 6th, 2017 AT 3:16 PM

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