Today I was driving back from the gym and I saw some smoke coming out the cracks in of the driver side hood, I rolled down the window and got a wiff and it smelled sorta like burning oil, but different. I continued to drive and it kept smoking, got home, popped the hood and saw that the smoke was coming from the back of the bay, I started looking for the culprit and found this on the passenger side, im guessing the oil is leaking onto the valve cover and burning off hence the smoke, but is this an oil line? what is its purpose and is it safe to drive like this for another week or so? how hard is it to replace, thanks for any help

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that appears to be a power steering output -presure side- hose
Check the resivour fluid
Dont drive with it leaking or you can have the steering fail!!!!

 

or have a fire start, one member had a car fire due to this. If I remember correctly, he was going to his friends house or was there and the car caught fire, he had it on his friends lawn though...

 

hmmm flammable fluid- oxygen and source of ignition- heat

You're right- the FIRE triangle has all the required bits!!

I carry a bottle in the trunk- thats what we call extinguishers at the track-- to avoid use of the F word unless something is truely engulfed!!!
Next mod will be another one mounted in the rear floor.

 

Thanks for the replies fellas

In the pic you see how the "bushing" i guess you would call it is sort of stretched out on the right side, well after it cooled down a bit I took it out of the clamp and twisted it so the stretched part was on the inside, then I pushed it back into the clamp and that seemed to stop the leak, I drove it twice, 20 minutes each way and both times when I arrived at the dest I checked the bushing and it wasnt leaking, however there is still smoke coming from the back of the engine bay, somewhere behind the block, I know this is wierd but it almost smells like someone is frying up some bacon, any ideas of what else the culprit could be? also, an Acura dealer is about 20 minutes out from where I am, would a Honda dealer be able to handle this?

 

bacon??

i know pancake syrup smell = coolant

check your resovoir and make sure you've got enough p/s fluid. you will severely damage the system if you run it while the tank is dry...

honda/acura or any local mechanic should be able to replace the hose and fill the fluid up... >$100

 

LOL yea bacon my man

The reservoir is full so I'm guessing the leak just started
Would this be easy to replace myself? I'm pretty mechanically inclined but I've only owned domestics before this. Also, on the hose there is PSA followed by some numbers, is that my part number?

Thanks for the help

 

can you guys believe this service cost me 370!!!

Where is the best place to get a service manual? I'm doing everything my damn self from now on

 

So what exactly did they do? replace both hoses and fluid?

 

just replace the hose and add fluid as needed

 

I had that same hose replaced under warranty 3 weeks ago. They had to drop the subframe to get to the end at the rack supposedly. I ended up with a free alignment out of the deal since it's part of the job. Sweet I need new tires anyway, now I don't have to get an alignment when I put them on.

 

This is my first post in a few years; I have an 04 TL Automatic that I bought in Nov 03. Last week I pulled into my garage and my son saw smoke coming from the hood. When I popped it to look there was a flame that flared up on the passenger side. Scared the shit out of me and my kids. Took me 2 seconds to realize I was in the garage (which is under my house) and I better push the car out fast just in case the thing goes up in smoke. Threw it in nuetral, pushed it out and hopped in as it was going over some hedges towards my neighbors house. Anyway...I had it towed to my Acura dealer who diagnosed the problem as a leaking Power Steering line. I have 53,000 miles and am out of warranty. They covered the fix as "Good Will" no charge which makes me think this is more of a widespread problem.
I recommend all 04 and maybe 05 owners keep an eye on that power steering line just above the engine; passenger side close to the firewall.

 

I have read several posts about high pressure power steering lines leaking. It seems with the potential for fire, I would hope there is a recall in the works with an improved design.

 

Recalls are generated by the NTSB not the car maker- the maker is ordered by them to issue the notice and perform the work

So notify them by email of the problem- and when enough people do, an investigation is begun.

 

Actually it's NHTSA (Nitsa - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) that issues recalls. NTSB is the investigative service for all transportation.

Also, either NHSTA or the manufactuer can initiate a recall. The manufacturer can do it voluntarily or "voluntarily" i.e., under "duress" - "If you don't issue a recall, NHTSA will."

You can file a complaint on-line and/or check previous complaints, investigations and recalls here:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/