Power steering cap

[Rally Sport]

How can I tell if my power steering cap is bad on a 2008 Buick lacrosse cx 3.8?

 

[MelsRegal]

How can I tell if my power steering cap is bad on a 2008 Buick lacrosse cx 3.8?

It would be leaking power steering fluid

 

[HotZ28]

How can I tell if my power steering cap is bad on a 2008 Buick lacrosse cx 3.8?

Do you have an issue with the PS system?

 

[Rally Sport]

No it steers just fine but it has a leak but I cannot find where it is coming from but there was fluid around gasket on the cap.

Do you have an issue with the PS system

 

[MelsRegal]

No it steers just fine but it has a leak but I cannot find where it is coming from but there was fluid around gasket on the cap.

Did you overfill the reservoir?

 

[Rally Sport]

Did you overfill the reservoir?

No when I check it hot it seems to be around the mark on dipstick.What ever is leaking on it it must be small because there is nothing on the ground underneath the car.

 

[Human]

I had a similar issue with a 2011 Impala (also a W-body). The power steering pump had a slow leak, but it was not the cap. It would leak down over about three or four months to the point that it would make unpleasant noises turning at slow speeds. I never found the leak or replaced the PS pump; all I did was top up the fluid whenever I heard the noise. PS fluid is relatively cheap, compared with replacing the pump.

 

[Rally Sport]

I had a similar issue with a 2011 Impala (also a W-body). The power steering pump had a slow leak, but it was not the cap. It would leak down over about three or four months to the point that it would make unpleasant noises turning at slow speeds. I never found the leak or replaced the PS pump; all I did was top up the fluid whenever I heard the noise. PS fluid is relatively cheap, compared with replacing the pump.

But mine has never went down and it’s been around 4-5 months since I noticed it.

 

[MelsRegal]

But mine has never went down and it’s been around 4-5 months since I noticed it.

In post 4 you state it has a leak but the fluid level doesn't go down.
So what makes you think you have a leak?

 

[EDSELRANGER]

In post 4 you state it has a leak but the fluid level doesn't go down.

I would be pretty happy to have that kind of problem. 😉

 

[Rally Sport]

In post 4 you state it has a leak but the fluid level doesn't go down.
So what makes you think you have a leak?

Because there is a clear liquid that gets on the back part of the axle I am beginning to think that it might be one of the air conditioner lines because nothing else seems to lose any fluid.

 

[HotZ28]

Because there is a clear liquid that gets on the back part of the axle I am beginning to think that it might be one of the air conditioner lines because nothing else seems to lose any fluid.

If it was one of the A/C lines, you would soon loose system pressure & cooling function. Can you get a sample of the "clear liquid" & feel/smell what it is? There is an A/C evaporator box water drain in the area you mention. If the sample is not slick like oil, I would suspect it is simply the water drain!

 

[Rally Sport]

If it was one of the A/C lines, you would soon loose system pressure & cooling function. Can you get a sample of the "clear liquid" & feel/smell what it is? There is an A/C evaporator box water drain in the area you mention. If the sample is not slick like oil, I would suspect it is simply the water drain!

I can but it doesn’t smell and there is nothing on the ground under the vehicle I also put a cardboard box under it overnight and nothing is on the cardboard the next morning and that’s what is confusing me about it.

 

[HotZ28]

I can but it doesn’t smell and there is nothing on the ground under the vehicle I also put a cardboard box under it overnight and nothing is on the cardboard the next morning and that’s what is confusing me about it.

Nothing on the ground or cardboard box, but "there is a clear liquid that gets on the back part of the axle"? Is that clear liquid still on the back of the axle when you check all that the next morning?

 

[Rally Sport]

I can but it doesn’t smell and there is nothing on the ground under the vehicle I also put a cardboard box under it overnight and nothing is on the cardboard the next morning.And that’s what is confusing me about it.

Nothing on the ground or cardboard box, but "there is a clear liquid that gets on the back part of the axle"? Is that clear liquid still on the back of the axle when you check all that the next morning?

Yes but no more than was already there.

 

[Rally Sport]

Nothing on the ground or cardboard box, but "there is a clear liquid that gets on the back part of the axle"? Is that clear liquid still on the back of the axle when you check all that the next morning?

Nothing on the ground or cardboard box, but "there is a clear liquid that gets on the back part of the axle"? Is that clear liquid still on the back of the axle when you check all that the next morning?

Would you happen to know if the ac lines run behind the engine as well?I know they run in front of the engine.