Power steering pump fluid leak (Xantia Hdi90)?

rmunns · Unread post by **rmunns** » 20 Dec 2009, 11:34

When I changed the oil and filter, I was pleased to see that the area of the sump below the filter was very clean. So after I had replaced the filter I cleaned the area again so that any leak could be quickly spotted.
No engine oil leak. But................... there is a clear film of what I'm sure is LHM now evident........... it may well have been there before.
The power steering pump is covered with a film of mucky gunge.
Is there a known issue here? I'm not badly bovvered but I will try to stop it if it is something simple.

rmunns · Unread post by **rmunns** » 20 Dec 2009, 11:38

I can now see that it isn't the power steering pump that I'm talking about, but the Main hydraulic pump.

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 20 Dec 2009, 11:58

Clean it all off thoroughly till like new. Then watch to see if you can spot exactly where it seeps from. Mine is like that just now and I see the leak.

Be carefull if spraying any cleaning fluid as your drive belts are there as well as alternator below. Don`t contaminate these.. Any green LHM fluid on your alternator?

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 20 Dec 2009, 12:20

Its more than likely due to the rubber seal around the main union going flat, the seal is available separately from dealers, here's a photo of the seal

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 20 Dec 2009, 13:37

Lots of LHM fluid on your Alintator WILL eventually kill it as all the Brush dust gathers with the LHM and accumilates around the brushes and stops them for working properly, The seal is rather a simple replacement, as shown by dickie, remove the feed pipe NEAREST the pully with 12mm spanner or union spanner, IT MAY VERY WELL BE TIGHT, theres NO NEED to deperessurise the system as I discovered you can change a pump with the system under pressure, anyway, remove the pipe, then with a 17mm spanner undo the next part its screwed into then undo it slowly, as theres a spring under it, HAVE A RAG under the pump, because while the union is off the LHM tank is higher, lhm WILL come out of the orface while the union is off, change the seal, and replace... if your quick enough you wont loose too much fluid..

Paul

rmunns · Unread post by **rmunns** » 20 Dec 2009, 14:21

Hello all and thanks for the replies. Reading a few more postings I'm inclined to think this might be an ambient temperature thing. Certainly it's unusually v. cold here, so maybe that's what has started this weeping. I'll keep an eye on it; we are (weather permitting) driving up to Birmingham on Tuesday/Wednesday so it'll be prudent to bring some fluid with me, methinks.
No suggestion of fluid on alternator, the 'problem' is just a very slight weep at present, not possible to see where it's coming from.