Hydraulic fluid leak caused CEL and limp mode.

[Johndoes54]

I took my car for a short drive today, and on the way back, it started lurching and I lost power. Like it went into limp mode. Then my check engine light came on right after that.

I pulled into my garage and I could hear a noise coming from the engine area and fluid was running onto my garage floor. I found out I was leaking hydraulic fluid. The next few hours were spent with the car jacked up into the air in my garage as I searched for the cause of the leak.

I eventually found that the black ball/power steering reservoir had loosened itself up and fluid was leaking (spraying) past the o-ring seal. I think the noise was I heard was the steering pump. I got a new o-ring at an auto parts store and with the fluid remaining in the vehicle I was able to verify the leak had stopped. But they don't carry the required Pentosin CH11S hydraulic fluid, so I'll have to get some tomorrow from the dealer.

I disconnected the battery for 10 minutes to reset the computer but the car is still in limp mode and the CEL is still on. Will that go away once the proper amount of hydraulic fluid is back in the car?

Tomorrow, I plan on getting fluid...filling to the proper level when cold (I'll follow the instructions in the owner's manual)....and then reconnecting my battery. Should everything be good to go at that point? Thanks.

Edited March 6, 2006 by Johndoes54