Power steering leak.

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Generally.

Could well be minutes, possibly seconds.

yes, can't you disconnect the pump belt?

Can do.

Dunno - not long, I'd guess.

If it has a separate belt driving the pump, remove it?

Thanks John and Dave. Will whip the pump belt off for her.

Just checked and the belt drives the alternator as well so that won't work. (It's a Ford Ka)

She's adamant she wants to drive it (she thinks it's not leaking as much as I think). I've suggested she take a litre bottle and top it up from time to time but I'm still unsure.

Exactly *how* does running without fluid knacker the pump? Is it as simple as lack of lubrication?

Yes.

So she's right. Even if all the oil runs out in 40 minutes. There will be enough residual oil to keep any moving compentent lubed for 2 hours or so even if it's not pumping oil at pressure?

Well there's only one way to find out for sure. There may or may not be, compare the cost of a pump with the amount being saved by not getting it done locally.

With a fully charged battery you should manage a daylight journey of 120 miles easily without the alternator charging - if you're careful about using other things that take current like heaters etc. Of course if the belt also drives the waterpump forget this. ;-)

There are metal to metal contact areas that rely on being submerged in lubricant. A pump designed for water etc would use a different design. Another example would be early high pressure fuel injection pumps designed in the days of leaded petrol - like fitted to some Triumphs. They fail if used with unleaded due to the lack of lubrication and have to be replaced with one designed to work with that.

Well that's the clincher. I can get a PAS pump from a local scrappie for sod all and fit it for her. (you could argue I should be doing the rack but it's a pig of a job and not really my problem.) Equally I can't recommend anyone good locally.

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Yup. the rotor relies on having fluid in there to stop the metal bearing on metal.

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Not in my experience.

Can you be a bit more specific.

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I had one last about three miles - from Brentford to Hounslow, IIRC, on an LDV. Driver noticed the fluid was all over the road when they got in

- pump was certainly useless by the time it got to me three miles away.

Assuming that's typical then she can just call the breakdown provider and get them to take the car - that's exactly what Homestart's for. We discussed this as an option but we assumed they'd simply claim it was drivable. Clearly it's not.

Let us know how you get on with that...

Chris

I've never had a problem using it before. (Britania and RAC)

Or are you saying they will claim you _can_ drive it with oil pissing out of the rack?

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I wouldn't say a car that's leaking PAS fluid badly is driveable. Certainly not by motoring orgainisation standards.

No, it would be classed as undrivable.

Getting the car to a repairer of your choice, some distance away, would not be possible within the T's and C's of the AA's Homestart service. Others may vary, but somehow I doubt it.

"HOMESTART

What is covered

If, following a breakdown, a prompt local repair is not possible, Your Vehicle will be taken to the AA's choice of appropriate local repairer or, alternatively, to a destination of your choice, provided it is no further."

I'm guessing they would baulk at 120 miles...

Chris