1999 Grand Am SE Power Steering Fluid Leak

[anderpant1]

I definitely have a power steering fluid leak in my 99 Grand Am. I noticed the PS fluid resevoir was very low one day due to the horrible sound I heard when I started my car and turned the wheel from right to left. I filled it up, started driving, and the noise was gone and steering perfect. A week passed, and the noise happened again. After filling it up again, the noise was gone and steering fine. This week, though, I have had the noise every morning and have had to refill it. I've noticed the pools of fluid on the concrete under the car on the drivers' side and passenger side...bigger usually on the drivers' side...but they are not there all the time. Obviously the leak has gotten worse and needs repair. I'm going to take it in to be fixed this weekend and wanted to get an opinion before they tell me how they are going to "fix it".

I have been reading on these threads a few things that go wrong with the power steering...leaks, hoses, pump, rack & pinion...which do you think my problem is? I'm hoping just hose leaks since the steering works fine when the fluid level is normal?

[xeroinfinity]

Yeah its probly the low pressure line since it goes empty over a week.

They are dealer only parts(unless they fab thier own), not cheap about $300-350 for both, cheaper then a rack & pinion that's for sure!

[anderpant1]

Ew, I don't like the sounds of that. I refuse to take this car to the dealer...the one around my area is known for shady business. My mechanic has been quite honest in the past, so I hope he'll be able to replace it.

How do I know if the pump has gone bad as well, since the fluid has gone dangerously low this past week?

[xeroinfinity]

Well your mechanic call purchase the hoses from the stealership, you dont have to have them do the work.

If you power steering pump was bad, you would know when the fluid level was full. It would be hard to steer all the time, and the pump would whine.