Power steering leak?

I've got a power steering leak in my '04 ford, am willing to pay $250 for repairs, would a power steering leak cost me $250 or more?

The only way to know would be to take it to a shop and get a quote.

I think it would depend where the leak is coming from. If just a hose, that is kind of expensive to me. However, if you need something mechanical replaces, then that may be about right.

You are willing to pay? Well aren't you special. You'll either pay whatever a shop charges you or let it leak.

That depends on the source of the leak. We have no idea.

Try this before you spend the money if the leak is very, very, small. Pour 1 ounce of brake fluid in the power steering resivoir. This may stop the leak if it is extremely small.

Cost to repair depends on what needs to be repaired…

The cost is dependent on the vehicle and what part actually failed. I suspect that a Ford would cost less to repair but I had a leaking power steering hose in my Nissan and the dealer wanted $500+ to fix it. Stop leak products will only work temporarily if you have a small leak in a seal in your pump or rack and pinion. If you have a leak in your hose, you have to change the hose.

That depends upon what exactly is leaking.

In the worst case the pump and the steering rack will need to be replaced, and during the rack change other parts may be found to need changing such as the rack mounting pads which degenerate with age and tie-rods which can suffer worn ball-joints. That's an unlikely scenario but would blow your budget totally. More likely just the pump or the rack need changing. Or if you're very lucky, just a hose has been damaged.

Depending upon exactly which Ford model you have (they made a lot of different models in 2004) your budget *might* cover the cost of the pump and labour, especially if a rebuilt exchange pump is used, but it's most unlikely to cover the cost of a rebuilt exchange rack plus labour.

What you're willing to pay is irrelevant as the job will cost what it costs. If the rest of the vehicle is good then even a bill two or three times higher is still better than replacing the entire car.

Of course, if you have the tools and skills to do the job yourself then you save a fortune and the job is not all that difficult for even a fairly inexperienced home mechanic as long as you buy a DIY workshop repair manual and can follow instructions. With the skills and tools you could then take a risk on very cheap salvaged parts from a pick and pull yard which also gives you a chance to practice removing those parts before you do so on your own vehicle.

You can get some PS fluids that include seal expanders and fix the leak temporarily.

It depends on what is leaking.

A Pittman shaft seal is likely if you have a steering "box". That can be repaired for less than $250.

If you have "rack and pinion" steering, the end of the rack is likely worn, and you can't just replace the seal. The remedy to to replace the entire unit with a rebuilt one. $250 would not likely be enough for the part plus labor.

It's also possible that the power steering pump could be leaking at the shaft seal. I don't know too many people who would be able to replace just the seal, so they would get another pump. That would likely use up the $250.

It's also possible that a steering hose is leaking. Replacing a defective hose would be the simplest and least expensive repair.

So have somebody inspect the car and identify the problem and give you a quote for repair.