Steering Hard, Water leaking underneath engine

[srini006]

Hello,

I would like to get some insight from the experts in this forum before I can go for any service needed on these issues I'm having. When I got 105 K miles service (J 30 - 1996) done 2 years ago, the service technician had recommendation for water pump replacement. I had my timing belt changed at that time. They didn't tell me about water pump replacement but had written on my final invoice.

During the last 2 years, I have experienced few issues which weren't major but want to make sure if it's just due to the age of the car.1) I see water dripping underneath once a while. I checked my coolantlevel and it has good level in the reservoir.2) My steering gets very hard once a while. I have been told to change the complete steering rack as the steering fluid was leaking and was given 1000 dollars invoice by Tiresplus. I searched on the forums and found that it's usual on an aging car and had recommendations to use leak proof steering fluid to stop any leakage but it gets once a while. It does get normal when I try to use it in the next 5 - 10 minutes.

Any suggestions/recommendations that I can do myself to make sure that there is no major damage occured that's causing the problems.I have attached few pics from underneath side of the car engine

Thanks in Advance

[Jakw]

Um? Maybe it's leaking power steering fluid and not water?

[brandonjustice93J30]

water leaking - check the upper and lower thermostat housings....when mine was leaking it took a while before the reservoir showed it.

has the car been running unusually hot? and is the drip near the front of the engine?

your pics did not attach, so we cant see them.

my power steering has been hard for a few years now. It will pop back in every once in a while. I was told a quote of over $1500 by a dealer to replace the rack and they wouldnt guarantee that would fix it. My problem isnt a leak anymore since a couple fittings were replaced, nearly under the dash. I have a sensor of some sort that tells the steering to be in high speed or low speed mode that is stuck in high speed and restricts the assist. It will occasionally kick back in and surprise me.

[Victor]

Do an internet search on power steering racks. I saw some rebuilt one as low as $235 plus your old one as a core exchange.. If the water is clear could it just be water that normally drips out of your airconditioner? If its not clear it can only be engine coolant or windshield washer fluid.

[srini006]

Thanks for all your input, I checked the water when it dripped and it's just clear water. So in that case also, is it usual that water drips off from the air conditioning.

Sorry on the pics, I thought I could upload pics into the thread but couldn't do so.