BIG problem - power steering leak

[1990q45er]

Some really weird/digusting **** happened today. I decided to clean up my engine a bit and check the chain guides, and I also put my car on jack stands to take a look at my steering problem (zerothread?id=137300). I put the key in the ignition and turned the battery on, and got my roommate to turn the steering wheel while I looked under the car. Well, he turned it all the way left and then all the way right.. then when he was coming back to the left, a ****load of power-steering fuild emptied out all over my face. We found out that it had come out of the reservoir cap.

Before doing this whole proceedure, I took the fan and the radiator out, and (obviously) drained the coolant. Is there something I did to cause this? Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do/what to check for? At a glance, there doesn't seem to be anything else wrong with the steering. The original problem (where I had a 45 degree non-responsive zone) doesn't seem to be a problem when turning the steering wheel on the jack stand.

I checked the power steering fluid level before jacking the car up and it was normal. Now it's filled right up to the brim. If anyone has any info, please help!

[Jesda]

Could a hose be kinked?

[1990q45er]

doesn't look like it.. i can't see any kinks, unless there are PS hoses somewhere that I can't see from under the car..

One thing that looks weird though - the rubber covering the tie rod on the passenger wheel seems a little out of shape.. i don't feel like this would account for the problem though.

After looking at some diagrams, I've come up with a hypothesis..1. The pressure-relief valve isn't working properly. This was my first thought.. but unless I'm mistaken, this would only cause a problem at high engine speeds.

If anyone has any thoughts/comments on my problem, I'd love to hear them..


Modified by 1990q45er at 6:14 PM 9/27/2005

[1990q45er]

update on the situation - the PS fluid stays filled to the top of the reservoir even without turning the steering wheel. The fluid stays at that level if the steering wheel is turned slowly.. when the steering wheel is turned fast, that's when the PS fluid starts overflowing from the reservoir cap. Once I STOP turning the steering wheel, however, the fluid level goes down a little bit.

So now i'm thinking that my PS system has a blockage somewhere.. I looked at every hose that would possibly have PS fluid running through out, but nothing looks wrong.. does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on the likely culprit?

[maxnix]

I don't know since the pump is presumably not running.

No specifications in the FSM for no power operation. Reservoir could become over filled from manual pumping action by turning wheel with no outlet on high pressure side since pump is inoperative. I wouldn't do this too much if you like your rack.
Modified by maxnix at 11:52 AM 9/28/2005

[Q451990]

Don't worry about it... that is absolutely normal. I'm not sure why, but I've done exactly the same thing. I think turning the steering wheel while the car is off returns fluid to the resivoir, but becase the pump isn't running - it doesn't accept new fluid? Just a guess - but the bottom line is that I have done this a couple of times... including last week when I replaced a p/s hose.

Heath

[1990q45er]

yeah i put my engine back together and turned the car on and the fluid level immediately went back to normal.. that's a relief! I had bad visions of having to get a new PS system..

[Q451990]

So tell us about your DIY timing chain guide check... did you replace the guides?

Heath

[1990q45er]

I haven't actually got around to checking them yet.. i've been working a lot recently. I'm still debating whether or not I should.. the plastic guides supposedly give out at 120,000 miles, and this car has got 223,000 miles on it.. so I'm figuring that they have been replaced.. but I thought it might be a good idea to check it anyway incase some moron decided to put another set of plastic ones on or some ****. I might do it tomorrow, but there's a lot of other problems that I need to sort out too.. i'll try and take pix if i get around to it

[Q451990]

I've heard of failures at 70K and cars running at 200K on original guides... mine went at about 120K though... definately worth checking.

Heath