In the big Northeast snowstorm, I noticed a significant amount of fluid leaking from my '04 TSX when I backed it out of the yard to shovel. Snapped a couple pictures:



and

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/getal...w=forum&Page=1

My guess is power steering fluid? Car has 86,000 miles on it, and the power steering recall was performed in August. Since this day, it hasn't leaked at all. I've placed paper underneath, put stress on turning the wheels, moved the car back and forth trying to simulate what I did that day and nothing -- any ideas on what might cause this to leak and then not? Anyone had similar problems?

I have an appointment to take it in next week. Hoping to get a sense of whether I should be driving this short distances in the meantime, and also want to be educated when I bring it in. Sounds like some people on here have been hosed (no pun intended) on power steering repairs.

Thanks!

 

2nd photo didnt work in original post. Shows much more fluid.

 

Is your car a manual or automatic? That fluid could be:
1. brake fluid
2. clutch fluid (if MT)
3. old coolant
4. ps fluid

It's such a vibrant color, I highly doubt it's brake/clutch fluid. Also, your coolant should look way more green unless it's really in need of a change. Check under your hood on your PS rack and lines and see if you can see any leaking. It's surely PS fluid.

 

Looking at the location, what about MT Fluid? That is, if it's a 6MT.

The other thought is that the first clump looks greener than the rest...perhaps it is coolant and in the snow it's diluting to yellow from the normal green???

 

Thank you, very helpful. It is a 6MT. Every now and then the clutch is making a slight noise as it engages to move the car from a standstill. Seems others in forums have had this same problem and have lived with it. No idea if these things are related. Clutch action feels fine.

I guess I'll find out when I bring it in. But it was unnerving that it leaked that much and then stopped.

 

When was the last time you changed your oil ? I ask because it looks like clean engine oil. Hopefully not a crack in the short block due to the cold.

 

^^^ That def. looks like clean oil.

 

I agree with clean oil.

 

Idk about engine oil or MT oil. It looks like it is leaking at a pretty fast rate (by the distance between drips and likely speed the car is traveling). If it were engine or MT oil (or coolant for that matter), you'd see a massive amount of fluid by parking your car there overnight. This seems to only be leaking when the engine is running, suggesting a hydraulic line.