this morning trying to make a left turn the steering wheel got stiffer and making a loud whining sound n thats when i notice something was wrong. so i stopped checked under the left frnt wheel n saw fluid dripping real fast. open my hood n power steering fluid was half empty. i smell something different n the fluid was all over my timing belt and wires. when i checked everything i saw my hose was melted and there is a huge hole on it. i think what happen was the hose was loose n when i was driving it was hitting the metal part on the timing belt.
anyway heres my q's:
will it hold up if drive it to the shop with a hole on it? i know the hose needs to be replaced but how about my timing belt since it got fluid all over it n how much will i expect for all this (power steering hose/timing belt).
hopefuly i get comments n advice frm u guys. thanks

 

3 hundy sounds reasonable.

I'm not sure if the timing belt replacement is absolutely necessary yet. 90,000 miles is what a reputable mechanic sugguested to me for timing belt chg intervals. Although if alot of fluid got on it, it may wear out faster. Isn't there a retainer clip thingy to keep the hose out of the cam gear's way?



[Modified by jcamacho, 12:41 PM 8/18/2002]

 

Oh, I would remove the belt to your p/s pump until the hose is replaced.

 

use a vinyl wire tape and tape all the way around the hose. and i would fill the ps with the proper fluid and drive my *** to a shop quick. cars that came equipt with ps is dangerous to drive without it cuz they got different system than the ones made without the ps.

 

the pwr steering fluid is DOT 3 and shouldnt hurt anything but u should try to clean up the best u can anything it got on just to keep dirt from collecting..draing the rest out and drive tot he nearest shop or replace it urself

 

ok guys thanks for the advice..but still confused should i take out the ps hose when i drive it to the shop or should i put vinyl tape on the hole but woulnd that melt the tape??anymore suggestions?? have to do this tomorow morning. thanks

 

deepnite is sugguesting you drain all the fluid our and drive it like that? I highly disagree. The reason I sugguested removing the belt to your power steering pump is to prevent any damage to the pump in case it runs dry. I guess you could tape it up but the pressure created when you turn will render this tape useless. I would tape it to prevent further leakage and removing the belt to protect the pump. We're not mechanics, we just play them on H-T.