power steering leak.

mothel

My 2007 focus, 28k, suddenly leaked all power steering fluid tday while parked in car park. Rescued and in garage tonight but have to decide where to send it for repair tomorrow. Any idea what this is going to cost me??

DublinDilbert

mothel wrote: »

My 2007 focus, 28k, suddenly leaked all power steering fluid tday while parked in car park. Rescued and in garage tonight but have to decide where to send it for repair tomorrow. Any idea what this is going to cost me??

Did it leave a massive puddle on the ground? or did you just suddenly notice it was all gone?

If its a massive leak like you say its probably something simple, like a hose clip that's come off or a torn pipe.

You'll need to someone to diagnose + fix it. The cost will depend on exactly what's wrong with it. I would find a good indy as the car is now outside of warranty. I'm sure any ford dealer will gladly take a look and charge accordingly.

mothel

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Did it leave a massive puddle on the ground? or did you just suddenly notice it was all gone?

If its a massive leak like you say its probably something simple, like a hose clip that's come off or a torn pipe.

You'll need to someone to diagnose + fix it. The cost will depend on exactly what's wrong with it. I would find a good indy as the car is now outside of warranty. I'm sure any ford dealer will gladly take a look and charge accordingly.

Puddle about the size of dinner plate, then awful whining noise when I started engine. Yeah trying to get in touch with an independent mechanic who specialises in fords. Best bet ok!

Nissan doctor

Its a very common failure on the focus. The union where the PS pipes join the pump fails suddenly.

Unfortunately you need to get replacement pipes from Ford. The pipes are all one piece(all PS pipes together) but the new ones you buy are a redesigned part to stop the failure happening again.

taintabird

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Its a very common failure on the focus. The union where the PS pipes join the pump fails suddenly.

Unfortunately you need to get replacement pipes from Ford. The pipes are all one piece(all PS pipes together) but the new ones you buy are a redesigned part to stop the failure happening again.

+1 its best to get the new ones from ford common failure all right

Plug

And make sure you get the union and red power steering fluid. Saying this and Nissan doctors posts we take it yours is a petrol 1.4 or 1.6, its hardly a diesel?

Third_Echelon

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Its a very common failure on the focus. The union where the PS pipes join the pump fails suddenly.

Unfortunately you need to get replacement pipes from Ford. The pipes are all one piece(all PS pipes together) but the new ones you buy are a redesigned part to stop the failure happening again.

Yes, this has happened to me before and now it just happened again this week.

I have a 2006 1.6 litre petrol Zetec Focus. I bought it in 2008, so it was just 2 years old with 30,000 KMs on the clock when I got it. About 2 weeks after buying it, the power steering went and I had the puddle of fluid... Brought it back and was replaced under warranty from dealer. I got hit in a car park by some bint, so i think the shunt spurred it on... Dealer at the time said it was common with the Focus alright. Anyway, pipes were replaced then.

3 years later (Monday of this week), I heard a whining noise coming from the engine, which was pitched in time with my acceleration and gear changes. Thought something major was up. The noise got louder when I turned the wheel, so thought it might be something to do with power steering, so did a search on the web and lots of matches for those symptoms came up.

I had a bottle of power steering fluid still in the boot from the last time it happened. Had to drive my car that time to the dealer, so bought a bottle of the fluid to top up to get me to the garage.... Anyway, filled it up on monday night and the whining noises from the engine and turning the steering wheel dissapeared, so definitely a loss of power steering fluid issue.

Last night the noises came back, and hey presto, low fluid in the resevoir. Seems to take about 24 hours for a top-up to drain from the leak...

Anyone know how much this costs to replace? Last time I had it done under warranty, so not sure how much it would have cost me???

Third_Echelon

Just rang a ford dealer.

Its only €25 to replace the pipes, parts and labour. Quick enough job apparently.

If the rack has to be replaced, its €600 parts and labour

If the pump has to be replaced, its about €300 and labour

I hope to jesus, it's just the pipes!

DublinDilbert

Third_Echelon wrote: »

Its only €25 to replace the pipes, parts and labour. Quick enough job apparently.

I'm no expert, but that sound way too cheap. If you ask them to replace a bulb for you they'll charge that or more. Can't imagine they'll pop the bonnet for less than €100. Unless they are offering some kind of good-will gesture.

Third_Echelon

DublinDilbert wrote: »

I'm no expert, but that sound way too cheap. If you ask them to replace a bulb for you they'll charge that or more. Can't imagine they'll pop the bonnet for less than €100. Unless they are offering some kind of good-will gesture.

That's what she said on the phone to me and I asked her to verify that's all it was parts and labour....

Nissan doctor

Unless they are now doing a special rate as this is common problem that sounds very cheap. The last time I got those pipes they were approx €80 odd euro and that was already a reduced price according to Ford and they take maybe an hour remove/fit and bleed.

Third_Echelon

Ok I rang around a few more Ford dealers today and seems to be the same prices from all. In my case it depends on what pipe has the leak. If it's the rubber pipe from power steering duct to cooling pipe, its about 75 euro all in.

If its the actual cooling pipe (aluminium pipe it slots into), its about 280 to 300.

See linked pics where the leak is on my focus:

http://twitpic.com/3yc05t/full

http://twitpic.com/3yc0fk/full

twerg_85

What ford dealer did you get the quote from ? I need to get pipes changed as well, but first quote was 500 so need to ring around.
Thanks.

Third_Echelon

twerg_85 wrote: »

What ford dealer did you get the quote from ? I need to get pipes changed as well, but first quote was 500 so need to ring around.
Thanks.

I ended up going to South Dublin Ford in Tallaght, Cookstown Industrial Estate.

Cost me 251 parts and labour to get the pipes replaced.

500 sounds way off the mark...

twerg_85

Cheers.

Third_Echelon

oh bugger.... the issue has returned for me, even after the pipes were replaced and the leaking had stopped.

Dealer had a look at it again and it seems that the Power Steering Pump needs to be replaced... He said 600 quid including parts and labour. Seems a bit steep.

Anyone had the pump replaced?

Hal1

Third_Echelon wrote: »

oh bugger.... the issue has returned for me, even after the pipes were replaced and the leaking had stopped.

Dealer had a look at it again and it seems that the Power Steering Pump needs to be replaced... He said 600 quid including parts and labour. Seems a bit steep.

Anyone had the pump replaced?

Get a reconditioned pump from drive shaft services. They are just in off the long mile road.

Sammy_Jankis

Third_Echelon wrote: »

.

If its the actual cooling pipe (aluminium pipe it slots into), its about 280 to 300.

Thats what went on mine. Rang about 20 scrap yards (think some of them didn't have a clue what I was talking about) and finally got a replacement one from the one out in swords. Just by the airport. Was 40 quid.

Third_Echelon

Hal1 wrote: »

Get a reconditioned pump from drive shaft services. They are just in off the long mile road.

Thanks for the tip.... on their online store, I can't see a pump for a ford focus though... Best to drop into them?

Third_Echelon

Sammy_Jankis wrote: »

Thats what went on mine. Rang about 20 scrap yards (think some of them didn't have a clue what I was talking about) and finally got a replacement one from the one out in swords. Just by the airport. Was 40 quid.

Was that the pump that you got?

Hal1

Third_Echelon wrote: »

Thanks for the tip.... on their online store, I can't see a pump for a ford focus though... Best to drop into them?

Drop in to them or ring for a quote.

Third_Echelon

Hal1 wrote: »

Drop in to them or ring for a quote.

grand thanks....

garhjw

i had a 04 focus and the power steering pump sprung a leak after only 30k miles. had to get a new 1 and i think it cost me about €400.....

Third_Echelon

garhjw wrote: »

i had a 04 focus and the power steering pump sprung a leak after only 30k miles. had to get a new 1 and i think it cost me about €400.....

was that with a dealer?

Sammy_Jankis

Third_Echelon wrote: »

Was that the pump that you got?

No sorry oil cooler pipe. You should try scrap yards for a pump if a new one 400 or even ebay.

Third_Echelon

Sammy_Jankis wrote: »

No sorry oil cooler pipe. You should try scrap yards for a pump if a new one 400 or even ebay.

Thanks, yeah, want to try and keep the cost down as much as possible... Lots of stuff online about this being a very common issue for a 2006 reg focus.

Sammy_Jankis

From looking on ebay I can only see up to 2005 (typical) so if you have a part number you could email them, and may be in with a chance. I may be completely wrong here though!
:eek:



Price 80-180

com1

Be wary if the fluid leaks onto the timing belt - happened to the OH (05 1.4) which ended up with bent valves and damaged pistons

bwag

Hi, just wondered how you got on with the power steering issue?
I have a 07 1.4 Focus and last week the pump started leaking
fluid, its leaking from around the metal pipe with the bracket attached
to it just where it screws into the actual pump. The car is only 3 weeks out of the garage warranty (I bought it in March 2010) and I had the car servised and put it through the NCT in Feb. I called the garage and they
gave me a quote of €200?

Third_Echelon

bwag wrote: »

Hi, just wondered how you got on with the power steering issue?
I have a 07 1.4 Focus and last week the pump started leaking
fluid, its leaking from around the metal pipe with the bracket attached
to it just where it screws into the actual pump. The car is only 3 weeks out of the garage warranty (I bought it in March 2010) and I had the car servised and put it through the NCT in Feb. I called the garage and they
gave me a quote of €200?

Yeah I had to get the actual pump replaced in the end. Just got it done at a dealer for around €300. So I've had the pipes replaced (cost me €250) and the pump replaced (€300) in the past few months.

€200 for the pipes that you were quoted seems a good price... The pipes parts themselves are only about €70. the labour is the rest...

Duffmiester

I too have a 2007 Focus (have it since 2009) only 36k miles on it now.

Was in a shopping centre car park, bumped off a path coming out of car space (jolted car). Then i see fluid leak on driveway within day or so.

Checked under hood and underneath car (up on blocks). Reckon leak coming from same pipe as pictured by other user above (right where rubber meets steel pipe).

Its unbelieveable that there seems to be a design issue (with most Focus owners getting lucky enough not to happen, but a considerably large bunch end up paying out for a Ford fault). I range Ford Ireland, and they will listen but dont appear will cover.

My car is from the UK in '07 and actually comes with a longer warranty, but its over now. Cant help but think bad of Ford, since their fault is causing me a lot more expense.

Must see, how much it will cost and where.

mazunte

I had these leaking pipes replaced in my 06 Focus and it came to 330 including vat for parts and labour. Probably should've shopped around a bit more for better quotes but needed it done asap.