I have a 2004 TL w. MT all original. It has low km (about 240,000 km) so plenty of life left and is driven mostly highway/open roads not in the city. It has been leaking power steering fluid for some time now. I think it is from the rack and pinion. The rack was replaced a few years ago with a rebuilt one but I guess it didn't last. Any advice on this? I have an order on a new car but the thought of letting this car go is a tough one!! Other than that the interior is in great shape, just some normal exterior stuff like clear coat fading and a bit of rust on the wheel wells. I hate to think about giving this car up.

 

fixing it up and use it as daily beater.

 

Don't let a 6MT go.

 

Damn straight !
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Fix the power steering, clean up the rust and use it as a daily or maybe a winter beater.

If it's paid for and you have space in your driveway/garage, might as well keep it if you like it.

What's the new car on order?

 

Could be the hose leaking. Worth checking out.

 

on my 06 TL MT, there is a metal pipe the PS fluid travels through in front of the radiator. Presumably to keep it cool. Being in New England, you can guess what happened to it.
I bought a replacement, put it in (1-1.5 hr of work), and good to go. that was several years ago. That stopped the leak.
May want to check that?

 

Thanks for the feedback. I will ask my mechanic to take a look but didn't see any signs of a leak from there (but I could have been looking at the wrong metal pipe!). I'm fine to replace the rack, but would hate to go through that expense and find it still leaking power steering fluid.

To one of the other questions, the car I have ordered is a Civic Touring....it's automatic so not so excited about driving it.

 

There's another hardline metal pipe that connects the rack to the PS cooler, it runs along the passenger side on top of the sub-frame, underneath the crank pulley. Mine was leaking from there (thanks rust belt cars ) from underneath the clamp which made it hard to see. Once I undid the clamp it was obvious where it was coming from, although replacing the entire hardline was a bear to do, but doable. Another place to look.

 

Awesome progress, Sir! Keep doing work. Bought my $500 TL a few years back as a beater and it's been one of the best project cars I've owned.