Power steering leaking through cap.

CAUTION: If the air is not purged from the power steering system correctly, premature power steering pump failure can result. The condition can occur on pre-delivery vehicles with evidence of aerated fluid or on vehicles that have had steering component repairs.

1. NOTE: A whine heard from the power steering pump can be caused by air in the system. The power steering purge procedure must be carried out prior to any component repair for which power steering noise complaints are accompanied by evidence of aerated fluid. Remove the power steering fluid reservoir cap. Check the fluid.

1. Raise the front wheels off the floor. For additional information, refer to Section 100-02 .

1. Tightly insert the stopper of the vacuum pump into the reservoir.

1. Start the engine.

1. Install the vacuum pump, apply vacuum and maintain maximum vacuum of 68-85 kPa (20-25 in-Hg).

1. CAUTION: Do not hold the steering wheel against the stops for more than 3 to 5 seconds at a time. Damage to the power steering pump can occur. Cycle the steering wheel fully from stop to stop 10 times.

1. Stop the engine.

1. Release the vacuum and remove the vacuum pump.

1. CAUTION: Do not overfill the reservoir. Fill the reservoir and install the reservoir cap.

1. Visually inspect the power steering system for leaks.

Check valves on steering box. What is happening is that the pump is returning more fluid to the reservoir than what it is using to move the box.

No-

no noise when turning and stiff steering is usually narrowed down to 2 things. a bad power steering pump or bad rack and pinion assembly. the rack and pinion is most of the time leaking fluid when it is bad, but you stated the fluid is good. I suggest to remove the power steering reservoir cap , start the engine and look inside the reservoir. the fluid should be swirling if the pump is working especially when turning the steering wheel. if the fluid isn' t moving then the pump is most likely bad.

Open the engine hood.

There will be several fluid reservoirs under the bonnet. If the car / truck has power steering, one of them will hold about 150-300ml of fluid that should be a red color. If you put some on your hand it is very slippery.

The other reservoirs will hold water for the windscreen washer, and one connected to the radiator to hold coolant.

Check that the reservoir you intend to put the power steering fliud in is not connected to the radiator and does not contain water.

Take the cap off to check.

If you can't see in to the bottom, roll up some kitchen paper towel and feed that in until you get some fluid on it - red, you hope!

There will be marks (horizontal lines) on the side of the reservoir showing "Min" (minimum) and "Max" (maximum or full). Slowly pour in replavcement fliud until the tiop of the fluid is between the marks.. Put the cap back on, close the engine hood, drive for a short distance (2 km?) and check the levels again.

Top up the reservoir to just under "Max". Replace the cap.

Check the level after a short period of normal driving - a couple of weeks, If it is still going down a mechanic needs to check the power steering seals.

good luck.

It sounds like your rack is letting the pressure bypass to the low pressure side.

YOU HAVE A RUPTURE PRESSURE LINE IF YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR.LOCATE LEAK THEN BLEED POWER STEERING SYSTEM BY ADDING POWER STEERING TO RESERVOIR.DONT OVER FILL BY FULL COLD MARK ON POWER STEERING DIP STICK.ADD FLUID TO RESERVOIR WAIT A 2 MINUTES.CHECK FLUID LEVEL AGAIN.WHEN POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL STOP DROPPING.START ENGINE LET IT RUN FOR 10 SECONDS.THEN TURN OFF ENGINE CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID ADD FLUID IF FLUID LEVEL DROPS. WHEN FLUID LEVEL STOP DROPPING.SAFELY RAISE SUPPORT VECHICLE FRONT WHEELS.START ENGINE.NOW TURN STEERING WHEEL GENTLY FROM STOP TO STOP MEANING LEFT TO RIGHT DONT HOLD IN POSITION.LET THE STOP TO STOP BE QUICK.CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID AFTER YOU HAVE TURN STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 7 STOP TO STOP.WHEN FLUID LEVEL STOP DROPPING YOU AT HOT MARK ON DIP STICK BLEEDING PROCESS COMPLETE.TURN OFF ENGINE LOWER VECHICLE BACK TO GROUND WAIT ABOUT 5 MINUTES CHECK YOUR FLUID LEVEL.IF FLUID LOOKS LIKE A TAN COLOR.YOUR POWER STEERING SYSTEM FULL OF AIR.TURN OFF VECHICLE LET VECHICLE SET A LONG WHILE TO AIR BUBBLES SETTLE DOWN LOOK FOR LEAKS AROUND POWER STEERING PUMP FRONT SEAL AND CHECK FOR LEAKS AROUND POWER STEERING LINES.

the rack and pinion unit may have a pinhole leak

Your problem could be a pressure side hose that has a rupture that only leaks in extreme conditions. Inspect to replace with new to repair problem. First make sure you have removed the pump caps off of the hose fittings. If ok, it appears you may have a stuck valve in the rack assembly. Replacing the rack should solve your problem. ------- The new pump should be self-bleeding by turning the wheels left and right. Let sit over night to release air bubbles, recheck fluid level.------ Check the tension of the drive belts on the pump, as they may be loose. The power steering pump and reservoir is located on the front of the engine driven by one of the fan belts. There is a removable cap on the top with a dipstick attached. With the engine off, fill this up to the full mark with power steering fluid. Replace the cap, start the engine and check for leaks. On the back of the pump are two hoses either one could be leaking. REPAIR PROCEDURE:
1. Wipe the power steering cap and area free of dirt. Remove the power steering cap.

2. Use a siphon pump to remove as much fluid as possible from the power steering fluid reservoir.

3. With a helper in the vehicle, raise the vehicle on an appropriate hoist.

WARNING :POWER STEERING FLUID, ENGINE PARTS, AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MAY BE EXTREMELY HOT IF THE ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING. DO NOT START ENGINE WITH ANY LOOSE OR DISCONNECTED HOSES. DO NOT ALLOW HOSES OR POWER STEERING FLUID TO TOUCH HOT EXHAUST MANI FOLD OR CATALYST. 4. Locate the power steering cooler attached to the crossmember support plate. Slide back the clamp and disconnect one of the two power steering return hoses at the power steering oil cooler and drain fluid in an appropriate container.
5. Have the helper turn the steering wheel back and forth quickly several times to force as much fluid as possible from the steering gear.
6. Reconnect the hose at the oil cooler using the original clamp.
7. Lower vehicle so the vehicle tires are not contacting the ground. 9. For proper fluid fill and bleeding air from the power steering system:

a. Fill the power steering reservoir to the top of the fill range using Mopar power steering fluid (ATF+4) p/n 05013458AA.

b. With the engine OFF and the vehicles tires off the ground, slowly turn the steering wheel back and forth (lock to lock) slowly 20 times to force fluid into the steering gear.

c. Fill the power steering reservoir to the top of the fill range.

d. Start engine and let run for a few seconds, then turn oft engine.

e. Check fluid level and add if necessary.

f. Start engine, and slowly turn the steering wheel lightly contacting the left and right stops.

g. Stop the engine and check fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.

h. Lower vehicle, start engine and slowly turn steering wheel lock-to-lock.

I. Stop engine and check fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.

j. If fluid is extremely foamy, allow vehicle to stabilize a few minutes, then repeat steps "i" and "j" until the fluid level remains constant after running the engine and turning the steering wheel from lock to lock.

10. Inform the vehicle owner/operator that a steering vibration may be noted for a few hundred miles until the air is completely removed from the steering system. This will help. Thanks please keep updated.please do rate the solution positively .thank you for using fixya

Make sure the fluid level is OK, if reservoir MT ad, with out the cap till air comes out and fluid gets in to system, turn the steering right to left wile You add fluid with cap off, till fluid is not longer going down and reservoir inside gets quiet, when fluid level is OK, put cap back and try it, if system did not recovered normality and loud noise comes from the pump, pump needs replacing, if steering is steel hard, no noise comes from pump, look a steering box or steering arms, if truck has Rakenpinon, look for broken boots, pit man arm