power steering fluid mystery

[keith744]

My niece has a 1999 ford taurus. shes been driving without power steering for a while . I checked the fluid level and found it to be empty. so i added fluid, started up the vehicle and by the time i got back to the front of the car all the fluid was gone. It wasnt on the ground, and i cant seem to find where the fluid is going. any help would be appreciated

[shorod]

Maybe when you started it, the pump pumped the fluid into the system from the reservoir. Did you top the reservoir off again to see if that disapeared as well?

Unfortunately, if it's that empty, and has been for some time, there is a good chance there will be leaks somewhere. Possibly the rack is filling up the bellows covering the inner tie rod ends with fluid. It won't leak out immediately, but once they are full and she turns the steering, it will probably make quite a mess.

-Rod

[Huney1]

I agree with Shorod and you didn't fill it all the way. Lucas is easy to find in auto parts stores and certainly worth a shot because sounds like a leak which means a seal is shot somewhere in the system. Lucas treatment supposedly swells the seals and stops them from leaking. http://www.lucasoil.com/testimonials/index.sd?catid=19

After you add Lucas drive it a week or so it can do it's job and if it's still leaking you should be able to spot the leak easy. There are seals around the reservoir pump shaft that the drive belt pulley is on and if it's been running dry the seals will probably be leaking. Rebuilt pumps about $55. and labor putting one on runs around $100. bucks. Get a rebuilt pump at an auto parts store and have a garage put it on, then take your old pump back and they'll give you a refund on the core charge. If you don't understand ask at an auto parts store and they'll explain. Total to replace around $150. to $175.