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Help: P/S return line route not as expected!

1989 S4.
After much searching and head scratching, I need some help from you guys.

I'm tracking down some P/S line seeping and it looks like I need to replace the reservoir to pump line, and possibly the return line. No problem. But I pull the reservoir and clean things off and MY return line does not "look like" all of the other lines I've seen in posts here, on parts websites, and parts diagrams. Most return lines appear to go from the steering rack, alongside the high pressure line toward the front, then under the coil where it change to rubber line, and then turn to up to the bottom of the reservoir. MINE does not.

My section turns into a rubber line at the coil, but then takes a 90 degree turn downward, turns back into hard line, continues downward. (Picture shows this turn. I put green arrow tape to show return line.The big black bracket is where the reservoir was.) Then the line turns toward the front, past the left of the radiator and turns in front of the radiator bottom

, and appears to then go all the way across the car to the right side bottom part of the radiator, under the A/C evaporator. Another hard line from that same area goes back across from R to L, alongside the return line I described....eventually ending up under the reservoir, where it turns to rubber to attach to the reservoir (that is the cut line you see in the foreground). Is my return line going to a cooler way over there? If so, what a much bigger pain this just turned into!

Somebody fill me in or tell me I'm crazy! Or both.
Thanks,
Jason
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...4f360f93df.jpg

Yep that's a cooler line. Not a big deal, just get a second feed hose to use as a new rubber section for the cooling loop. Cut off the old rubber section and attach your new modified hose to it with a hose clamp.

Thanks. That is kind of what I was thinking, since it is not high pressure, with new rubber sections and good clamps it should be good.
(So, it really cools that much, just a long line going across the car and back? Huh. I know on my Bronco there is actually a little finned "radiator" about the size of tall boy beer can that the P/S line goes through before returning to the pump.)

The return line from the steering rack ends at the clamp under your green arrow.

At this junction the return line connects to a hard line which is the cooling loop for the fluid.

Unless your return line is damaged or you want to replace it for cosmetic reasons just replace the rubber section of the return line. These return lines have become far too expense to replace for a little weep at that junction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason89s4 (Post 15638492)

Most return lines appear to go from the steering rack, alongside the high pressure line toward the front, then under the coil where it change to rubber line, and then turn to up to the bottom of the reservoir.

Not on a 928. If you’ve ever seen this —-^ on an ‘87+ then what you saw was not the way it came from the factory.

Worf,
You are of course correct. My statement was what I "expected" to see based upon looking at pictures of the return line part and parts diagrams. (See attached...to me it sure seems to depict the return line attaching to the bottom the reservoir!)
I did not realize that the rubber end of the return line went to the hard-line at the clamp, I assumed it went straight to the reservoir. (Which I guess it could if you wanted to eliminate the cooling loop.)
Jason

Jason, you’re looking at the wrong-year parts diagram.

This is what you should be looking at:

http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-p...section=403-01

Whoa! Looking at the correct diagram might help!
(Not sure why my search for 89 pulled that one up. I thought the interweb was perfect.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason89s4 (Post 15639493)

Whoa! Looking at the correct diagram might help!
(Not sure why my search for 89 pulled that one up. I thought the interweb was perfect.)

You can go to the PCNA site (linked in a post above) and download the PET parts catalog for your car.

I have a copy for each of my cars on my hard drive.
Saves time searching and I know I'm looking at the right pictures.

Wisconsin Joe,
The link in this thread was to the Auto Atlanta website. Do you have a link to the parts diagrams download you mentioned? I'd love to have that to go with the PSM I downloaded.
Thanks, Jason