I was coming home tonight and my power steering started failing. I stopped by my aunt's house and steam was coming out of the headlight openings. When I left I noticed a small puddle in her driveway. On the way home from my aunt's, the problem seemed to have gotten better. When I got home I popped the hood and steam was coming from between the motor and radiator and the underside of the intake elbow was wet. I felt of the belt and it did not seem wet. Could this be the water-pump? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I think your best bet would be to wait until day time and inspect it then. You'll be able to see what's going on then. Was the puddle coolant or P.S. fluid? The leaking water could've made your belt slip a bit, and then dried off on your way home. Find and fix the water leak, check your fluid levels, then see if the car drives ok. Easier said than done I know.

 

If it was leaking coolant, and it leaked onto the belt, thats what caused your power steering to go(slipping belt).

So im guessing thats what it is..you need to find where its leaking from. Good luck.

 

I had the exact same problem...... it was my Water Pump. it has a very small hole underneath it. When the pump wore out it began to leak through that opening and right onto the Belt.

Fix it as soon as you can before it takes your Opty with it.


Marvin

 

I had a bad power steering pump leak fluid on the belt, thus causing the belt to slip. check for spray marks at the bottom of the hood, the belt sprays the oil all over the engine compartment.

 

My guess would also be coolent leak spraying on your belt causing it to slip. You said there was a puddle, did you stick your finger in it to see what it was? You should be able to smell the difference between coolent and power stearing fluid. You also should be able to tell by the texture of it. I have seen the heater core hoses (both) blow several times (right Nick!), that would be the first thing I would check. Hope that helps some.

Craig

 

From the description, I would say water pump. Probably leaking out the weep hole onto the belt and then slinging it all over.