Please help me identify this engine part!

I hope someone can help me. Today while driving my 1991 Hyundai Excel,
when turning the wheel left or right it was very difficult, and very
noisy. I was close to home so I drove home. After an hour or so I
checked on the car. There was a huge leak of power steering fluid under
the car. I assume the power steering pump went out. I added power
steering fluid and started the car and I could see the fluid running out
of what I believe is the power steering pump. Can someone verify that it
is definitly the power steering pump. I took a photo. In the photo I'm
pointing at the area that is leaking. (right behind the wheel of what I
believe is the pump)

http://i4.tinypic.com/2upz8uu.jpg

Can I drive this 3 or 4 miles to the auto shop tomorrow if I fill it
with oil before leaving, or should I just have it towed? Could I really
screw it up worse if I drive it? Thanks so much for any help! Thank
you! Pam

 

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

 

Re: Please help me identify this engine part!


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




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!!

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL836/446301/853083/185070697.jpg

My sick Hyundai with a front end bladder problem. ha-ha!

 

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