1986 IROC-Z

This morning as I backed into my parking space at work I happened to notice great billowing clouds of smoke pouring out from under the hood. "I'm not ASE Certified but I don't think it's supposed to do that..." I said to myself.

When it got light out, I had a look at the situation. Turns out that once the car has warmed up a little (a quick drive through the parking lot was enough), I had a leak. There's a line going to the power steering pump, on the top of the gearbox, and it was spraying fluid around the fitting like Old Faithful's smaller brother, Old Stinky.

It seems like an odd place to just start leaking for no reason. Any ideas what kind of failure is likely to have caused it? I need to decide whether it's safe to drive, or time for a tow truck.

Cheers,
Bry

 

It'll only leak until the resevoir is empty, but then you won't have any power in the power steering, and you'll probably have started the car on fire by then to say nothing about what it will do to your pump by running it dry.

It's probably your supply (high pressure) hose, not too expensive but can be a pain to replace (close quarters to work on it). Fix it soon.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car. Rescued w/86 LG4/TH700R with all harnesses, sensors, ECM, etc. 2.73 open, cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, ported heads, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. Currently 396 .030 over, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

I agree, PS pressure line needs tightening at the fitting at the very least, or replacement.

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FORMULA 350 TK
Southern California 3rd Generation F-Body OrganizationŠ

 

Thanks guys!

I tried to drive it home but only got a mile or two before deciding that was a Very Bad Idea(tm). I had it towed home.

My first step will be to remove all this A/C crap. It doesn't work anyway. Then I'll replace this hose. Hopefully that's all it is, an old hose, and not the gearbox itself.

Cheers,
Bry