E30ix PS fluid Leak

[NCTerp]

Returned home from the Vintage in Asheville, NC. What a trip- great cars and great people. About 600 miles put on my 91 325ix. So of all the things I've done since getting her a year ago- I haven't touched the power steering. I've put about 9k miles on the car without issues. So after getting back last Sunday- I noticed the tell-tale sound of low PS fluid- a whine when turning the wheel. I checked- it was low so I added some ATF fluid after checking the forums and that seems to be what is recommended. I topped it off, and drove- it worked fine- normal steering and no noise.



Pulled into the garage and left it. Pulled out today to clean the car to find a few ounces of ATF under the car. I looked- and it's so tight in there I am having trouble finding where it's coming from. I'm not a mechanic, but I play one with you-tube and a bentley manual. But I don't know where to begin.



Well here goes- I guess I'm "that guy" today- "my car is leaking, without looking what is it?"

Could this be related to the ix-only steering rack? Is there a seal or something I should be looking for? If I can get it diagnosed I can figure out whether it's something I want to do or pay to get done, just looking for a starting point.

[jlevie]

It could be just a bad hose, or it could be the rack or the pump. I'd suggest taking the car to a shop for diagnosis and then decide what to do.

[itsonlygeorge]

Get the car up in the air on jck stands and get under there! Look for and leaks and wipe them up as clean as you can get them. Take it for a drive to get the fluids pumping and get it back in the air and check where you cleaned. thats generally how you find leaks. Check the whole PS system - hoses, racks, fluid reservoir, pressure hoses. You will find the leak eventually. Sometimes its something simple like cracked plastic or hose, sometimes it's more complicated.

GL!

[Kershaw]

If you remove your airbox you might have a better time being able to look down in there. If you still can't find it, a shop will tell you. In my experience, if there's actual leaking (vs just seeping) it's the rack. But start the ps reservoir, look at the lines, are the wet and greasy? Then look down at the rack, how wet and greasy is it? Can you squish the boot with your hands and see if atf comes out?

Since it's on the drivers side it could be the reservoir, lines, pump, or rack. If it was the passenger side then it'd most likely be just the rack.

[e30topdown]

If the reservoir hasn't been replaced recently, then chances are the hoses haven't either. If the hoses under the reservoir are wet, replace both hoses and the reservoir. It has a built in filter, too. It amazes me, but people will replace the hoses and not the reservoir...ever! And the reservoir is less than $30.