I had my truck in yesterday afternoon at a local shop to get the pinion seal replaced. This morning when I start it up, I hear a bubbling sound coming from under the hood. I turn it off, pop the hood, and see fluid all over the driver front side of the truck. I noticed a hose loose. I reattached the hose. But I couldn't tell which hose it is. It disappears under the engine. I'm not sure if its power steering or transmission. The fluid is kinda reddish...I think. But now I don't have any power steering. The tranny fluid level is fine, power steering fluid looks low. The hose was attached to a metal pipe that runs along the front of the radiator. Any ideas what it could be? Thanks

 

sounds like a busted power steering hose.

there should be 2 of them, both running from the PS pump to the steering gear box. one is the pressure and one is the return. see if its just come off, or more likely broken.

DO NOT run the power steering pump dry of fluid or you'll add a big number to your repair bill.

 

It just came off. I have already reattached it. I have no power steering at all though. I've only tried to move it a few feet. I have a friend bringing me some fluid for it. I read in the manual that it uses ATF fluid instead of power steering fluid. Is that correct?

 

i'm not sure about the fluid. both ATF and PS fluid are very similar, both are 10W oils. you can check your owners manual or haynes or maybe this site.

PS hoses don't usually just come off. because they're relatively high pressure, like hydraulic hoses, they're high PSI, with crimped ends, and then threaded fittings into the pump and the steering box. there is no reason that it would/should have been removed for pinion service.

 

I assume that somehow they must have done it. I'm like you, those things don't just come off. It wasn't torn though. If they didn't pull it off, I don't know how else it did come off. It's been 1,500 miles since the last oil change, if they'd done it it would've shown up along time ago. I haven't messed around under the hood, other than fluid level checks which I do every Sunday.

The manual does say ATF in it. I had a Porsche back along the way that used the same stuff instead of power steering fluid.

How much fluid does it need? I can't find it in the manual anywhere.

 

you may need to prime the pump, fill up the resivor and slowly turn the wheel left an right, this will prime the pump.

 

I got that problem solved. Took awhile, but I got it done. Thanks though.