2000 ford windstar power steering leak

Hi,

I have a power steering leak and it makes a noise like a rubbing/turning sound all the time if its low. It drops slow but makes a big puddle quick enough. Its more in the middle front of the vehicle near the automatic transaxle fluid pan.

I got my rack and pinion done in 8/09. Power Steering Return Line fixed in 1/2010 and the other house done in 1/12.

I heard it could be my rack and pinion. Any ideas with the location?

Thanks

If it is the rack and pinion leaking, you will see wetness at either/both ends of the rack and pinion assembly ... at the bellows-boot. The rubber bellows on a non-leaking rack will be dry and dusty ... but a leaker will be oily wet. The fluid leaks slowly pass the end-seals, collects in the bellows-boot and then gets squirted out when we steer a tight left or right.

And it may be leaking at the hose fitting. Some folks mis-thread or overtighten these fittings ... these fittings are the o-ring type and just need to be assembled properly to be leak-free.

Replacing the rack is quite a chore ... I wonder what you really had done before. A number of "mechanics" will take a look at the difficult task, shrug, .... and perhaps take your money without achieving very much.

I'd suggest you either carefully pressure wash the motor/power steering pump, rack, lines or lacking a pressure washer buy a squirt bottle of engine clean and go to it. Fluid has this nasty habit of flowing all over the place and locating a leak can be difficult with a messy engine compartment. Once its all clean, you and then have a better look. For this type of inspection, I prefer ramps (vs jack stands) and if you're unsure of what you're doing it's probably better to take it to a trusted shop for their inspection.

Thanks all it helped locating the leak. It was a hose. Not shocked how the place I took it to doesn't have my repair on record. But its fixed.