Hey guys, just wondering if anyone else had this issue, I'm wondering how "urgent" it is. I had my car in for an oil change ($142?!?? wtf. Time to start doing my own.) and they say that the power steering hose is starting to seep a bit, not a full on leak yet. They don't seem to be overly concerned with it, rather something to keep an eye on. Anyone else deal with this?

As a side note, the latch for my glove box is broken, and I asked for a quote on putting in a new lock/latch assembly. Apparently my only option is a $375 new box... whew. Next time I'm buying a Ford

 

You can try changing the hose clamps w/ adjustable ones.

 

I added a few more clamps and cranked them down...and that ended my leaky PS hose.

 

Going to the dealer is a surefire way to be a broke owner..especially for a MINI or BMW. Dealers DO have a higher overhead, so prices are much higher....for some things it is a good move....
Many folks have managed to fix their glove box issues....some short-term, some long-term....you can always get one from a junkyard, and strip the parts...and fix it...or fix it yourself with a bit of creativity.
The PS line...is it a high pressure hose or the low pressure one?
You can buy a new OEM hose online, somebody like WAYMOTORWORKS can get you the oem one, or possible have pre-made ones that fit...just be sure to use the RIGHT petrosin branded PS fluid...it is basically incompatible with the regular stuff...

 

Thanks above poster who I forgot to quote, I will look into clamping. I actually inspected the hoses coming from the PS fluid resevoir and couldn't find any leaks... how bad can it be??

Zippy, I'm not sure which hose it is, actually... I'll look at the paperwork and see if it specifies, and if not I'll ask my SA. I DO have a third party warranty, and the SA is contacting them to see if it covers the PS hoses. I doubt it, somehow, but fingers crossed!

My glove box lock/latch mechanism is totally shattered, right now I just have it jury rigged closed (part of the latch tucked under the dash panel holding the door shut.) The SA actually recommended a junkyard box.

That is not such a pressing issue, I'd just want to get it fixed properly if I were to sell the car privately. I can live without a functional glove box, provided it doesn't get too rattly.


Thanks for the tips though, I do have a trusted garage that does my tire/wheel/suspension stuff, if I can get the hose from a vendor here I imagine they'll be able to put it in if it's something I'm not comfortable tackling myself.

 

any updates on what it might have been or just wanted to follow up to see if it did stop leaking. Since I went in for an alignment(firestone lifetime ftw) and was told i have a small leak on a PS hose, but due to them being back up they were not able to show me it specifically :(. any tips besides taking them all off and inspecting them individually?

 

Everyones definition of a small leak is different. Is it sweating, or is there an actually fluid collection/leak where fluid is being lost @ a noticeable rate? I've done more Power Steering Pump/Reservoir to Pump Line & Rack to Reservoir Line replacements working for MINI then I'd care to get into. To be quite honest its not a tough job, more of a dirty job, unless you have yourself a nice fluid evacuator which can help with pws fluid pissing everywhere when doing these jobs. The number one failure that tends to happen to those that just let pws fluid **** and sweat out near the pws pump is failure of the pws cooling fan. once the fan goes...so does everything else. I'd have a look @ it, maybe take a picture of the condition your currently in, post it and i might be able to tell you how to best tackle it, and its priority level (in terms of yah you need to do that **** now, or you can let it go for a bit).

Oh and please do not use anything other then Pentosin CHF 11s Power Steering Fluid, that is unless you'd like to be replacing your pump too somewhere down the line. As well as don't be the guy that is going to catch there old fluid for re-use...its really not worth it.

 

ok. will do. I'll put the cooper on jackstands when i get up and post a pic. Thanks for the help btw!

 

I see MINI glove boxes on Ebay frequently.

 

Thanks, I hadn't even thought of checking there!

As for my power steering leak, I can't be very helpful... I had it repaired under an extended warranty I purchased with the car. It stung, because if I made it another two years without using the warranty I had a ~$1200 refund. However, this repair cost over $700(!), so I gambled on something else breaking in the future and had it covered that way.

 

Haven't seen any puddles under the car, even with it sitting quietly for a couple days.


a point in any direction would be nice. thank you!

 

I am in the same boat. Pictures look like mine. I already replaced clamps on the reservoir end but I am still losing fluid somewhere. Not enough to puddle but just get everything wet. In about 80 miles the fluid has dropped from the upper mark to midway down the middle mark. I am thinking maybe the fluid return line is the culprit.

 

In reference to my earlier post. Replacing upper clamps has stopped my leak. Wet lower ends was from residual fluid and the couple of turns stop to stop wasn't enough to fully bleed system, which explains why my level seem to have dropped after a drive. All good now.