Power steering questions
 

Today I started pulling the engine in my '99. I ran into a two problem related to my power steering reservoir. First, there is what looks like a vacuum line coming off of the reservoir. When I removed the reservoir, that line just came out from under the intake. Does anybody know if that line gets connected to anything, or is it just a vent line?

Second, the reservoir was not only empty, but completely clean and dry. It looked like it had never had any fluid in it ever. Is that normal, or what? Why would it be like that? I have no sign of leaks up front, but I suppose the pump could be leaking.

Clean and dry??? Are you sure it is the power steering res? When the pump runs low on fluid it starts making noise and steering gets real stiff real fast. The common failure mode is to overheat the pump on track days causing the red plastic return fitting to melt, fail, and spew fluid all over the front of the motor and the ground.

Who was tech inspecting your car before track days to make sure all your fluids were good?

Yeah. Clean and dry.

Me. Who learns something new every day. However, I did have regular inspections and they never mentioned it. Maybe it's something new. I guess I'll be looking around under there.

The line is a vent and should point down towards the ground, the reservoir should be full to the mark. Low fluid levels is one of the biggest reasons power steering pumps fail on these cars; fill it and check it often.................