Please help me identify this engine part!

Usually just an 'O' ring that has failed in the pump housing.

Re: Please help me identify this engine part! snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com (irwell) wrote: =A0=A0

Thanks! Do you know if I could drive it 3-4 miles to the car shop or would I be screwing it up worse?

No shop I know would try repairing a failed power steering pump, so the answer would be no.

Thanks! Would driving it to the shop with no power steering fluid in the system scew up anything else? I'm just wondering if I should just tow it in or not. I hate to spend the $80 for towing, but I would hate it more if by driving it I screwed up something that really costs!

Pam, just fill it up again before you leave, I dont think 3 - 4 miles will hurt it more. Just BE AWARE that if it all leaks out before you get there it will be like driving a non powwer steering car and you should drive accordingly Be READY for the other driver.

Tunes

snipped-for-privacy@bkbusa.com (Screwtape III) wrote:

Thanks! Would driving it to the shop with no power steering fluid in the system scew up anything else? I'm just wondering if I should just tow it in or not. I hate to spend the $80 for towing, but I would hate it more if by driving it I screwed up something that really costs!

Fill the fluid resevoir up and drive it to the shop. You'll likely be ok doing so. No one here can give you a conclusive answer since we can't see the car. The picture you provided, while a great thing to have included in your original post, does not provide any information as to how bad the leak is, where it is, etc., so there has to be a certain amount of guess work on the part of folks here giving you an answer.

Pretty easy to do for any mechanic. The only thing the power steering pump does is make the car easier to steer, can be a hazard if you have to make a sudden turn without it.

Maybe you are too young to remember the days when there was no power steering.

I agree with Mike. Just fill it up or even overfill it and drive it the 4 miles. The worst that will happen is you destroy the pump, which the shop will probably try to talk you into replacing anyway, even if an O-Ring would fix it.

Tom

Thank you ALL so much! I will be driving it to the car shop tomorrow. I'll post the cost of repair and details when it's repaired just in case there's possibly someone who's interested.

Mike-- I filled it with power steering fluid last night then started it. I looked underneath and it drips one drop on the ground every 2 seconds.

Irwell-- A few years ago I drove a '74 Ford Capri with no power steering and steering was a big CHORE!!!.....I tried to always be moving if I needed to make a turn as turning from a dead stop was a major workout for the arms!!!

Thank you all!!

See the Urologist as soon as possible!!

That always was the key to turning a non-power steering car. Get moving before turning the wheel. Of course, those older cars had a higher gear ratio in the steering box too.

Tom