2002 lincoln LS Power steering stopped working, fluid leaking under the car

[zsquared24]

My wife went to town no more than 10 miles and as she pulled in the drive the power steering went out she said it was gradual I looked under the car and there is a puddle of power steering fluid. What do I need to check first I would like to fix this myself as we are flat broke. Does anyone know where I should start looking where the lines are etc. Does it sound like the pump went out or a hose leaking? I have never had this problem in any car I have drove so I don't have much of an idea where to start. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It is on the drivers side of a 2002v6 lincoln ls. There was plenty of fluid in the car I had the oil changed just 2 days ago and was under the hood and checked it. My main worry is that it is something more than a hose. Just wondering what you guys might have opinion wise and how I need to go about fixing it. I am hoping it is a line so that I can change it myself but I don't know about the other problems. I have 2 1ft ramps for changing oil I can pull it up on to check I would have already but it is raining like crazy outside. Is this something that is not to hard to change because if at all possible I need to do it myself. I am just tore up as we have just had a flat a couple days before on the drivers side. I am hoping that it is just a hose as the amount that it leaked a good 1ft or more wide puddle would seem to have to be a hole or broken hose. Does anyone know where I can get a good diagram of everything I need to check and the procedure. I am usually pretty handy at fixing things. Also if I do have to take it to a shop will it hurt the car to drive it without the power steering? I have been told that it wouldn't but I don't want to end up costing myself more money the shop is about 4-5 miles. My wife and I are trying to make it on min wage and if this can be fixed by me it would help a lot. I just need to know what to look for. Also the engine was smoky when she pulled in I am guessing it is where it sprayed fluid on the hot engine. Help Please Thanks, Zach I can take a photo if you guys need to see when it stops raining.

 

[joegr]

It could be a hose, the 3-in-1 cooler, the pump, the pressure sensor, the actuator, or the rack. I can't recall hearing of any hose failures on these. Leaking from the pressure sensor I have heard of a few times.
It's not good on the pump to run it without lubrication (fluid), but five miles is probably okay.

 

[zsquared24]

The fluid was leaking out under the drivers side near the center of the car if that helps. You know looking from the front it is about right next to the centerline of the car but all on drivers side. How is the best way to go about finding which one of these things is the problem? Is there a good online repair manual that is available I have had trouble finding much info on the issue.

 

[joegr]

To me, this is one of those "if you have to ask..." kind of things.
Anyway, I would clean it up (brake parts cleaner is good for this, but you may get by with just hosing it off), put some more fluid in (it's Mercon V, not "power steering fluid"), and see where it starts coming back out at.

 

[LS4me]

Your Mk1 Mod1 eyeball is the best way to find a leak. You will have to get under there and look. You implied you're mechanically inclined so this shouldn't be an issue for you. This is for an '06 but should get you pointed in the right direction.....

 

[1LoudLS]

To me, this is one of those "if you have to ask..." kind of things.
Anyway, I would clean it up (brake parts cleaner is good for this, but you may get by with just hosing it off), put some more fluid in (it's Mercon V, not "power steering fluid"), and see where it starts coming back out at.

Your Mk1 Mod1 eyeball is the best way to find a leak. You will have to get under there and look. You implied you're mechanically inclined so this shouldn't be an issue for you. This is for an '06 but should get you pointed in the right direction.....

^
^ agreed, the quickest way to find something is usually just to watch for it. cleaning it up first makes it easier to see when it starts spraying again. a leak that bad doesn't sound it should be hard to find.

 

[zsquared24]

agreed can't just yet though, storming and I am alone at the moment.

Your Mk1 Mod1 eyeball is the best way to find a leak. You will have to get under there and look. You implied you're mechanically inclined so this shouldn't be an issue for you. This is for an '06 but should get you pointed in the right direction.....

It is coming a huge storm right now or I would be looking it doesn't seem to have all drained out just right after the car was shut off quite a bit drained. The reservoir still has some in it so I will have to just start the car up on the ramps and see where it comes out. I have cleaner so that is no problem. If it isn't a problem with a hose however what would the most likely suspect be? I guess I am just hoping it is a hose but who knows I know it sprayed out enough to make steam under the hood when she brought it in. Doesn't seem to me like a pump failure would spray out like that but I am an aircraft mechanic these cars are a lot different. I don't see me having any trouble fixing it, it is just finding the problem and like you guys said you have to look to see.

 

[zsquared24]

Thanks I will be doing that as soon as it dries up I am hoping it is something simple that I can fix I tell you I am in some rough financial times and just got a flat the other day still have to have a new tire put on and with min wage it is hard to enough to just eat let alone keep this car going it seems like something happens every week. I just gotta deal with it but it is the only car we have and now it is useless until I can get it fixed. Also thanks for the link It helped me out a little in finding things I wish I could get a copy of some detailed manual but I cant find one.

 

[zsquared24]

anyone know where I could get a copy of the service manual on the net such as a torrent or pdf I have the manual that came with the car

 

[LS4me]

anyone know where I could get a copy of the service manual on the net such as a torrent or pdf I have the manual that came with the car

eBay....... But I guess you're looking for something free....

No offense, but 2 full-time minimum wage jobs will never be enough money to maintain a luxury car (most require premium fuel as the least of the cost). IMHO, you would be better served (at least at this time in your life) selling the LS and getting a 4-cyl grocery-getter.

 

[zsquared24]

eBay....... But I guess you're looking for something free....

No offense, but 2 full-time minimum wage jobs will never be enough money to maintain a luxury car (most require premium fuel as the least of the cost). IMHO, you would be better served (at least at this time in your life) selling the LS and getting a 4-cyl grocery-getter.

That is what I would rather have the car is one I was pretty much handed down through the family and would be happy to sell it for something else but it is not like it is worth much if it is spraying fluid everywhere.

 

[zsquared24]

I just need to get it back on the road as quick as possible and no one is here right now to help me diagnose the problem.

 

[joegr]

I just need to get it back on the road as quick as possible and no one is here right now to help me diagnose the problem.

There's not much to diagnose here. Put more of the correct fluid in (if it has run dry), start it up, and see where is sprays out from. If you can't identify the part it is spraying from, then post a picture of it here.

 

[112 LS]

lol another one bites the dust. I've been seeing less and less lincoln ls's on the road these days, smells like another one headed to the cruncher.

 

[zsquared24]

There's not much to diagnose here. Put more of the correct fluid in (if it has run dry), start it up, and see where is sprays out from. If you can't identify the part it is spraying from, then post a picture of it here.

Well this one isn't I can't afford to junk a car over a power steering problem. Reply to the poster below you. ------joegr-- I have the full tech manual now, so I know what I am doing when I do it. It has yet to quit raining here so hopefully tomorrow morning I can see where it is coming from and if it is something I can't readily identify then I will take a pic. I am just hoping it is a hose because a pump would be harder for me to change without a rack to put it up on all I have are some oil change ramps and a floor jack. I do have good tools though and the book to get me through it. I could even change the pump I believe but if it comes to that I may take it to someone. It is a good car it just needs a little work and I know what is wrong with it now, as far as the other minor problems. This is the number one thing that needs fixed though I need it to drive. Also the reservoir still has fluid in it so it didn't all leak out if that means anything or not lol

 

[LS4me]

Well this one isn't I can't afford to junk a car over a power steering problem. Reply to the poster below you. ------joegr-- I have the full tech manual now, so I know what I am doing when I do it. It has yet to quit raining here so hopefully tomorrow morning I can see where it is coming from and if it is something I can't readily identify then I will take a pic. I am just hoping it is a hose because a pump would be harder for me to change without a rack to put it up on all I have are some oil change ramps and a floor jack. I do have good tools though and the book to get me through it. I could even change the pump I believe but if it comes to that I may take it to someone. It is a good car it just needs a little work and I know what is wrong with it now, as far as the other minor problems. This is the number one thing that needs fixed though I need it to drive. Also the reservoir still has fluid in it so it didn't all leak out if that means anything or not lol

The pump is on top and you wouldn't need to raise the car. The rack is another story.....

 

[Blueberryyum02]

Power steering pressure switch

30 bucks at advance auto you'll need a 19mm deep well sock and small rachet

 

[zsquared24]

The pump is on top and you wouldn't need to raise the car. The rack is another story.....

I meant it it is a hose the procedure you have to get under.

 

[zsquared24]

Power steering pressure switch

30 bucks at advance auto you'll need a 19mm deep well sock and small rachet

Hope it is something that simple and I think my Dad has some metric sockets. It still hasn't dried up and stopped raining long enough to check it. The one week we get rain here is the one I need to be outside the most.

 

[zsquared24]

Here are some photos I took really quick while the rain let up of where the fluid is pooling I couldn't see a leak outright but I haven't been able to clean everything either but fluid has to be coming from somewhere underneath the pump area to have pooled here it seems to me. If you need pics of anything else please let me know.

 

[zsquared24]

We started the car for about a minute and gently gave some pressure on the steering and this is what resulted. I was told by a local mechanic it looks like it may be a hose but he hasn't seen it only had it described by my wife who refuses to listen to me about it. Do you guys know what would cause it to leak in this area? Also if you need any more pics taken of different areas please let me know I will gladly take them I am trying to diagnose this as soon as I can we need it to drive.

 

[zsquared24]

We started the car for about a minute and gently gave some pressure on the steering and this is what resulted. I was told by a local mechanic it looks like it may be a hose but he hasn't seen it only had it described by my wife who refuses to listen to me about it. Do you guys know what would cause it to leak in this area? Also if you need any more pics taken of different areas please let me know I will gladly take them I am trying to diagnose this as soon as I can we need it to drive.

 

[joegr]

Showing where the fluid is ending up isn't really helping to narrow it down.
You need to find where it is coming from, not where it is going to.

 

[zsquared24]

That is the thing I cannot see where it is coming from it has to be leaking for somewhere under where I can see. I can't get a good look. I can try and see it again later maybe it is raining cats and dogs again and I really need to be under the car to see. Apparently it is coming from somewhere behind the pump and below where the wires and things come out. I can't really tell though. I have called a mechanic and set it up for next week but if I can get it fixed before then it is for all the better.

 

[zsquared24]

I know what you mean though the pictures dont show that much just the area where it is dripping to I understand that. I just cant see what is back there from above. I will try and get some better ones as soon as I can I wish I had a dang borescope so I could look up underneath there. These engines as so packed in it is hard to find anything.