I'm trying to sell my 1994 Accord. This morning a prospect comes to check out the car.

While the car was running, he pops off the power steering resevoir cap. The fluid inside the resevoir is foaming. A second later, the fluid overflows and spills everywhere.

I've never seen this happen on my car, but then again I've never removed the p/s cap while the car was on.

I would seem to me that with the car running, the fluid is under alot of pressure and removing the cap allows the fluid the escape. Not 100% sure though.

Is this normal? Does p/s fluid always overflow when you take off the cap while the car is running? Or is this a sign that something is wrong with my p/s pump?

Any info is appreciated.

 

Something is wrong, the fluid should not be foamed; dry off the lines around the reservoir tank, {Brake Clean Spray} maybe dust them with powder. A pinhole leak can let the pump suck air.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hondadude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Something is wrong, the fluid should not be foamed; dry off the lines around the reservoir tank, {Brake Clean Spray} maybe dust them with powder. A pinhole leak can let the pump suck air.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks dude, you pointed me in the right direction. I'll check it out.

 

same thing happened to me and it was the power steering pump.put in a new/used one and the problem was gone.

 

Another thing to check out...

The reservoir bottle has a fine mesh screen down towards the bottom. It'll be submerged when the fluid is at the proper level.

If that mesh is clogged with dirt, the pump suction will get starved, maybe it'll suck air & foam. Then at the same time the fluid being returned into the reservoir builds up above that screen & doesn't flow down thru the screen.

If this is happening it means not only the screen, but there still must be some leak in the pump suction tube to let it suck air.