Power Steering Leak at pump

[02chuck]

2003 Boxster S

I have a tough to find leak up by the PS pump.

I pulled the intake tubes out and the interior panel to get a good look at the well hidden beast.

Do the seals that mount the reservoir to the pump leak at times?

It seems like the piece that tightens the reservoir to the pump does not get very tight.

The reservoir wiggles a bit, is that normal?

Wanted to AX the car last weekend, but could not go as the PS fluid was dripping down on to the exhaust and the car was smoking.

Wisdom appreciated

Chuck

[ericinboca]

The reservoir has an O ring on its neck, and it can leak past the O ring if it is damaged. Also the neck of the reservoir is just a plastic piece, so be sure the flanges are still there. More likely, it is just not on right.

The way the reservoir goes on and locks is not intuitive, and not attaching the reservoir correctly was a source of leaks for me. If I remember correctly, you had to push it down and then turn it something like a 1/4 turn. It has been a while. Don't remember precisely.

If you have the reservoir removed, study the connection and you will see how it goes on. It was not easy to get on right. But once you get it right, you get a vague feeling that it is locked into place.

Further, I found power steering fluid was pushing out the top of the cap through the little overflow hose under lots of revs on the track. I mistook that for a leak. I added a length of hose to the overflow hose and ran it to a plastic water bottle I wire tied to the inside of the engine bay.

[02chuck]

Thanks for the info I will check that out

Chuck

The reservoir has an O ring on its neck, and it can leak past the O ring if it is damaged. Also the neck of the reservoir is just a plastic piece, so be sure the flanges are still there. More likely, it is just not on right.

The way the reservoir goes on and locks is not intuitive, and not attaching the reservoir correctly was a source of leaks for me. If I remember correctly, you had to push it down and then turn it something like a 1/4 turn. It has been a while. Don't remember precisely.

If you have the reservoir removed, study the connection and you will see how it goes on. It was not easy to get on right. But once you get it right, you get a vague feeling that it is locked into place.

Further, I found power steering fluid was pushing out the top of the cap through the little overflow hose under lots of revs on the track. I mistook that for a leak. I added a length of hose to the overflow hose and ran it to a plastic water bottle I wire tied to the inside of the engine bay.

[Cloudsurfer]

The reservoir has an O ring on its neck, and it can leak past the O ring if it is damaged. Also the neck of the reservoir is just a plastic piece, so be sure the flanges are still there. More likely, it is just not on right.

The way the reservoir goes on and locks is not intuitive, and not attaching the reservoir correctly was a source of leaks for me. If I remember correctly, you had to push it down and then turn it something like a 1/4 turn. It has been a while. Don't remember precisely.

If you have the reservoir removed, study the connection and you will see how it goes on. It was not easy to get on right. But once you get it right, you get a vague feeling that it is locked into place.

Further, I found power steering fluid was pushing out the top of the cap through the little overflow hose under lots of revs on the track. I mistook that for a leak. I added a length of hose to the overflow hose and ran it to a plastic water bottle I wire tied to the inside of the engine bay.

Those connections are an absurd design, and more than likely are leaking because they aren't on correctly, or the seals are damaged or missing. I'd start there.