Was under the hood the other day just checking on the car and I had the Maxima idling when I noticed the steering fluid reservoir looking like boiling water. I thought the fluid should be calm when the car is idling and I am not turning the steering wheel.

Also when I brake I hear a clunking sound in the front that disappears when I come to a full stop. Looked in the bay and under the wheel wells to see if there was anything suspect. Found nothing

Maxima is 14 years old in September and I am wondering if it's worth keeping her any longer. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

mine bubbles/gurgles a lil too.Nothing near pot + stove.I think its normal.

 

jack the car up. leave the wheel on. look for play from 12-6 and 3-9. then take the wheel off and inspect you swap bar linkage. (both sides)

PS fluid should not be bubbling. Do a full line flush and fill it with fresh ATF. you prob have air in the line somewhere.

 

Wrong, it is COMPLETELY NORMAL for the PS fluid to bubble in our cars.
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...d-boiling.html


I don't wanna know how the steering would act if there were air in the lines

 

The last time I went to my dealer he advised me I need to replace my lower control arms. I had one replaced some time ago but never replaced the other one. I have not had a chance to inspect it myself but i wonder if this is the clunking sound when I brake.

 

I've had the same clunk when my LCA bushing were bad (that was two years ago).
It's usually best to replace the arms themselves rather than trying to press new bushing in.

As far as the gurgle is concerned, the fluid is circulating when the engine is running, so why should it not "gurgle"?

 

[quote=Maxie40;6488228[B]]....I noticed the steering fluid reservoir looking like boiling water.....[[/b] [quote]

why would air be in the system (he said it resembles boiling water)? air in your power steering system is a BAD thing. so again there is a problem. When there really is air in the line you will HEAR it. (as heard when doing a complete PS fluid flush).

never seen water boil without bubbles.

 

I think this has been blown out of proportion. I think the OP meant that the fluid moves in the reserviour, he said nothing about bubbles.
The PSP circulates the fluid when the engine is running. There's no need to turn the steering wheel to see any reactiion in the reserviuor.
Right?

 

i totally agree and think its just normal.

 

It would take a massive amount of heat to make ATF boil, the plastic container would melt...

 

its normal. mine does it