Hey gents. Yesterday I got back from a quick highway drive and noticed that there was some smoke comin from under the hood. Opened her up and it seemed to be coming back from around the passenger's side strut tower area. It was comin from between there, the engine, and the firewall. I let her cool down and took her to dinner. No smoke or anything, but my car was makin a weird noise when accelerating and turning. I noticed that my power steering fluid was crazy low. I stopped in at target and got some fluid, and voila, no more noises. But a leak is still there. It is a brownish puddle behind my front passenger wheel. Here are some pics of what i'm dealing with.





This last pic is from above the engine. It is taken from above the strut tower back towards the firewall. I'm pretty sure this is the top of the hose that seems to be leaking in the first pic.



Thanks for your help guys.

 

What does it smell like?

Do NOT turn your wheel if the fluid is empty, it can quickly burning up your rack.

 

your power steering pressure hose is leaking. That happened to me. Call DaveB @ South Point Nissan. mention that you are on orger an he'll take care of you!

 

Sorry for such a newbish question but, where is power steering fluid or place where it is stored at? And how do you know when it is low?

 

this is crazy I just got back from the dealer today, for the same thing. they said it was the power steering return line leaking. Which caused the control arm bushing to wear out. basically $400 for control arm bushing and $200 for power steering line, which has to be a special order. funny thing he said it has been leaking for a while, but I don't have any stains in my garage. plus power steering fluid is like a quarter inch below the min cold marker.

 

Go to advanced auto, the control arm is $168 with new ball joint.

 

PS hose.

 

the dealer was trying to steal you. ps leak won't cause control arm bushing to wear out.

 

There was a member here, it's been a long time, but his car burned to the ground because of his leaking PS hose. It was leaking onto the exhaust and ignited.

 

It's in the trunk.

 

No, that was in the 4th gen, they moved it to the passenger side wheel well away from the motor.

 

Well thanks to this thread I now know what's leaking. Mine is not as bad, 3 drops in the last ten days. No puddle. PS fluid level is at normal operating levels. I'll jack up the car tomorrow to determine the exact point of leakage.

 

I hv the exact same leak... no puddles yet.. but i do lose very little fluid over 3-4 months... need to get estimates on that hose!

Is this as easy as pull out the old hose and put the new one on?? or do i need to do something with regards to getting the air out etc?

Any do it yourself links?

 

so you guys are saying I should change the whole control arm instead of just the bushing? btw do you thing this could be the cause my thumping sound for god knows how long. also is the power steering line do able yourself? thanks

 

 

I can't say definitely about the 5th gen, but the stock Nissan bushings for the 3rd & 4th gen do rot out from the power steering fluid (atf). The bushings are hard to change, not a job for the casual mechanic. Buy a control arm with the bushings.

 

Here's what can happen if you don't fix your power steering hoses. Read and Heed fella's!

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...ery-death.html

 

I was under my car for the same leak this morning... What i notice is for me the big banjo bolt shown all oily in the OP's first pic is not as dirty.. also the main rubber hose coming into the P/S pump is not showing signs of leakage... so I wonder 2 things:
1. The leak maybe actually from the rear valve cover gasket since I def have that and also, the fluid around the P/S pump hoses does smell like ATF.. I opened the P/S reservoir and it smeels of ATF so I assume the leaking oil should have a similar smell
2. The leak maybe at the banjo bolt or actually the suction line..

My first step is going to be doing the rear valve cover gaskets and monitor the P/S pump area to see if the oil leak continues.

heres a link to my post... http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...ying-leak.html

 

I had the problem a while back and I actually fixed it. It is most likely the high pressure power steering hose which runs on the passenger side from strut mount all the way down the firewall. I actually had a rat in NYC in my engine last winter nibble on it and a few wires that actually stalled my car and killed my battery as I was getting on to the on ramp of the highway. A quick boost got me back on the road but the damage was done from the hose. I was hitting up the autozone for weeks for power steering fluid after I sprung the leak. I was also burning the fluid on the engine and had smoke come out of the engine a few times. Once I got the new hose in all better but had to change the control arm bushings since the oil that spilled on the control arm wore it all out. Hopefully that would help you all. Posted this on the other thread too. If you start leaking bad you would notice your steering wheel lock up and would be hard to turn because of the power steering fluid loss.

 

I think you have a rear valvcover gasket leak. Its dripping down all the sheit. I had a similar leak and thought it was PS. Turned out it being the VC gasket. Here is where mine leaked and dripped down.

I bet this is where your leak is.

 

You sure about that? If that fluid were to leak on to the control arm bushing, it will start essentially cause the rubber in the bushing to rot....same thing would happen if it was motor oil.

S

 

I doubt the oil will get into the bushings, if it's that easy, so can water, salt, mud.

 

just so this thread can die, it did turn out to be the PS pressure hose. thanks for the input.