I bought an 04 F150 SCrew 5.4 3V a while back. The power steering fluid level keeps dropping. I have topped off the power steering reservoir at least 3 times in the last month and a half.
What's got me baffled is I can't find evidence of a leak anywhere. The hoses, the pump, or on the belt. I've crawled over & under it. I can't find anything anywhere.
I started to notice a slight whine when I turn the wheel. My fluid is at low but it's pretty dark and I'm not sure if it was ever changed or when. I have 100k miles. What fluid should I use?
View 10 RepliesIs there any way to check your level of the power steering fluid on a 2013 xlt 5.0,
View 4 Replies Just bought a 2007 supercab with the 5.4 in nice shape, but have an intermittent brake light on the dash. (No ABS, just the brake light.) Our mech. diagnosed a bad Brake Fluid Level switch. I can get a new sensor. I'd like to try and replace this myself and save a lot of money if it's not too difficult.
I'm looking for some clear step-by-step directions on doing this, and have a couple of questions:
Do I need to disconnect the battery first?
Do I need to empty the brake fluid reservoir? (Looks like the sensor is in the bottom of the reservoir, if I take it out without draining res, will I have a mess?)
When looking up the sensor online, I also saw the plug/connector for sale, should I replace that as well?
How since the container is not see-through?
View 11 RepliesI am a new owner of a 2004 F-150 FX4. Bought the truck with a leaking power steering and I have isolated the root cause of the leak. It is coming from the "transfer line" attached to the center of the rack. The top portion has simply rotted through. I have searched the forum and google for about a week and only found one thread where someone actually asked about replacing the hard line on the rack. Unfortunately, no one chimed in with a part source and all my searches only come up with a HP line or Return line....no hard transfer line leading from the rack to the gear box.
View 7 RepliesI started to feel the brakes get spongy. So I pulled the master cylinder forward and turned the 7mm about a half turn. Also noticed the brake fluid level low. I topped it off. Drove down a steep hill....red dash brake light comes on.....plow truck stopped at the base of hill with on coming car. Used emergency brake.
The down side is that I don't have a dry area to pump and check where the leak is. The up side is I have a 2nd car to drive (yaris).....the truck only has 45k miles on it. Where is that area that is prone to leakage on these trucks....... 2004 heritage 4.2 v6 with stick shift.... only 45k miles ....
I recently was looking over fluids and whatnot in my 08 Camry, and the power steering fluid level was at the upper line for hot about 3 hours after I drove it (about 7pm). Checked again at noon the next day, still didn't budge. I know this is something fairly new, earlier in the year it was normal.The steering feels a little tough too. It might be me, I've been driving a 2011 Sienna with the EPS, but I don't remember it being this resistant.
Now the car has over 43k on it, and it recently had the water pump replaced about two months ago put in the the dealer (I noticed this, not the dealer), along with front struts and an oil change. Nothing mentioned about the Power Steering or anything, but it seems abnormally high. I am not sure if any of the PS lines had to be removed to do the job (water pump or struts), but if it was, it seems that it might have not been properly bleed. I did try turning to full lock a few times, to the point where the revs drop and it squeals a little (not sure if that is a pump issue either, not the drop in revs but the noise)
I am just trying to figure out why I have a high level of fluid now, and the power steering feels a little weak.
My truck had a slight vibration at idle today and what i noticed the most was i was looking at the top of the motor and i noticed that the fluid in the power steering reservoir was shaking back and forth like i was shaking the container. Is this from the vibration or is the power steering system vibrating. I have had this truck for two weeks and it has 135k on it. It is the 5.4 motor...
View 1 RepliesUp until my last oil change at 105,000 miles, I didn't notice any oil usage. When draining my oil, it didn't look like it was quite 4 quarts. After the oil change, I ensured that I had the engine exactly topped off to the upper mark on the dipstick. Around 600 miles later, I parked in the same location and have noticed that the oil level has dropped enough to notice. I am guessing that I will lose well over a quart between oil changes. Before I resign to the normal mechanical reasons (rings, cylinder wear, etc.)
The loss doesn't seem to be gradual which has me looking for other explanations. I also had a Toyota mechanic go over the car and replace the other fluids and filters at 100,000 miles (coincidence I think ).
Just noticed my level is about an inch below the full mark, it was fine at the last oil change, no leaks that I can see....nothing on the ground.
View 8 RepliesI've done all the fluid but the power steering and the coolant. I'd like to change out the power steering fluid in my 08' F350. What fluid do I need ?
View 2 RepliesI have a 2004 Venture where the power steering feels tight. Fluid level is good. No leaks (had it repaired a year ago where line was leaking, and now repaired).
Turning the wheel under most circumstances feels pretty normal. However, say, doing parking maneuvers SOMETIMES feels like I have non-power steering for maybe a quarter turn, and then it picks up again.
I have a 2006 RX 330 with 116,000 miles. I noticed that i had a leak and the power steering oil level was low. I went under the car and looks like the power steering hose is leaking. The dealer wants $352 for hose and $325 for labor. I called auto parts stores and they say its a dealer item only. Someone told me I could have a hose company rebuild it for a lot less.
View 5 RepliesI had a line blow on my steering rack, and I was taking it to the garage well I decided to add some power steering fluid but instead I added it to my brake system , (yes I know it was bonehead move on my part when I do know the difference). Any ways I drove my 2008 jeep liberty about 5 miles to the garage, they are changing my rack and pinion because the initial problem, but my question is do I bite the bullet and change the master cylinder, brake lines and calipers??? I do a lot of driving on highways , and I am been getting mixed answers yes change it all and no just flush it out.
View 9 RepliesAbout a week after my wreck I got the Parking brake light and the message brake fluid level low. The fluid level is fine and I read some other threads where people said the vacuum system was connected somehow. I knew the ESOF didn't work so I replaced the broken line and nothing changed, except the ESOF works now.
Anyway I can't for the life of me find a replacement sensor, part number or anything.
Have a small coolant leak. The level is dropping and I can smell it but I cant find it. The radiator was new at 100K miles and the heater core is bypassed. No evidence on or near the hoses, water pump or radiator. Getting ready to replace all the hoses because they are overdue but I would like to find the leak(s) first.
View 5 RepliesI have a leak coming from the top of my reservoir from the under the cap for some reason. I bought a new cap and it seem to stop for a day and now it leaking out from under the cap again. What is the reason it would be coming out of there. Am I going to have to replace the reservoir??
View 1 RepliesI have an issue with my 2004 GLS 3.5 L w/ 68000 miles. After the SUV warms up for a few minutes I can hear a whine or rattle on the passenger side. I noticed a little power steering fluid leaked out the top of the reservoir (a few little bubbles in the oil). Then reading on the HMA website it says the filter in the reservoir can get clogged and restrict the flow. I took the reservoir off and flushed it out then replaced with new oil.
Unfortunately this did not fix the issue the noise is still there. It's most prevalent when you turn but the noise also picks up a little when you hit the gas. I have checked for hose leaks but cannot find one. My next step is to have the steering pump changed out. While the mechanics in there I am going to have him check the hoses/pulleys really close and look around for another leaks anywhere. Noise is annoying but the steering works fine.
I have a lexus rx 330. Pump started making noise and low on fluid. We replaced all the belts and new pump. After installing new pump it was leaking from fill cup cap when driving also making a lot of noise on cold start. Mechanic said new pump was bad so we put in another one. Car ran fine as soon as we put it in and bleed good. Following morning again a lot of noise on cold start and noise goes away about 10 minutes but again small amount of fluid leaking from cap on fill cup. I replaced the rubber ring on cap to get a tight seal but again nothing.
View 6 RepliesYesterday the power steering exploded on our 2008 Lexus RX 350 spewing power steering fluid all over the under carriage of the car and the garage floor. Left a trail every where we went. The loss of fluid caused the power steering to quit working. I had no prior signs of any leaks of any kind and no noise or symptoms from the steering prior to this. Had this happened on the highway at speed, I don't know what could have happened.
Loss of steering and the catalytic converters covered in oil could have resulted in a fire and or wreck. I see on line that power steering leaks seem to be a problem with many Lexus models. I have heard that a screen/filter in the power steering solenoid can clog causing the pressure in the system to go sky high blowing the rack seals. Some have said that by cleaning the filter and flushing the system that the problem can be solved without having to replace the rack and pinion.