I find a very small amount of a reddis/brown fluid on the garage floor under the left front side near the front tire. I think it may be coming from the steering rack, but not sure. Any suggestions?

 

George,
Yes that’s most properly from the power assisted steering system – either from the steering rack or from one of the hoses to/from the rack – Can also be overfilled reservoir – or air leak on the suction side of the pump who will makes the oil to foam and then overflow, but then you will normally also have some noise.
I also saw one day, the oil was like mayonnaise due to the owner filled window-washing water in the steering oil reservoir!
It should be relatively easy to spot the leak.

 

Chances are that your hoses are shot where they connect to the resevoir. See if the bottom of the resevoir is damp around the hoses. Basically, the fluid trickles down the hose and drips on the floor. To fix, just suction out the fluid with a Mity-vac or even a turkey baster. Disconnect the resevoir and then disconnect the hoses from the bottom of it. Cut the top inch off each hose and then clamp them back on, you should have enough slack to do this. Remember to fill the resevoir back up with ATF, "not PS fluid" and check the level with the car running.

 

I echo Doug's fine advice.

 

huskydog I've got to ask you something.

How did you attach your frount licence plate to your car?

I can't seem to find a good bracket. I think the cops are getting annoyed at me.

I went to all the auto supply shops in town. They all have the same flat bracket. It'll work wounderfuly with a flat place to bolt it on, but there's no such place on our cars.

Btw, your frount end looks exactly like my modifyed 83's. :-)

Thanks.

 

Husky:

I had the same leak on my PS system. The hose on the bottom of the reservoir closer to the front of the car was rotted enough to leak, and caused the pump to cavitate (suck air and moan) when it was below 50 degrees F. I just replaced the hose and the problem went away. If you can just snip the top of the hose off, do so. Replacing the hose is a pain because of the tight space and the fact that the hose snakes through spaces where your hands won't fit. My solution was to attach the bottom part to the pump (from beneath the car), lower a string down from the top of the car, tie it to the other end of the hose and then pull it up so I could attach it to the reservoir. Not very graceful, but it worked.

 

FWIW, I used a front license bracket from a 2000 996. The hardware fit right and the plate is upright enough so I dont get any trouble from smokey.................

 

Thanks, nice day today so I had it out, first time I heard the "grinding" noise. Checked reservoir and it was low. Will need weekend time to get underneath and check the lines.