2001 Maxima has been making a "whirring" noise for some time. Start the car this morning and the "whirring" noise is much louder and now there is a "groaning" noise when turning the wheel. So I drive 5 miles to work, I open the hood and see the power steering fluid reservoir is very low (only about 1/4" to 1/2" of fluid in there). Looking around, it appears to be leaking from the "pressure hose" in the upper passenger side of the engine bay.

Some notes:

#1. The "whirring" nose has been around for a couple months, but the reservoir level had been steady/fine without me adding any PS fluid. Only PS fluid I have done is today when I got home and filled it up to between the min hot/max hot markings.

#2. Given the prior whining noise, but now the leak, do you think I need to replace the PS pump as well as the pressure and suction hoses there?

#3. How difficult is the PS replacment (and associated hoses) job? Any special tools needed?

 

Also, it looks like I may need to stop driving the car until I fix this because the PS fluid is flammable? Is that correct?

 

If you are not mechanically inclined I wouldn't attempt it because it's a PITA. It's a very tight area and some of the bolts are really difficult to get to but if you do it, I suggest replacing the high-pressure line as well as power steering belt and serpentine belt. Depending on the condition of the bolts, expect to spend 6 hours on this repair.