mealmond

I was considering an Aygo as well, just could not find the right one. In the end I kept it simple, 2008 Fiesta, 1.25, only 49, 500 miles, and is in really good condition, with excellent MOT history. Was going to pay more for a newer car but some of the history was shocking, so paid less but for a decent car. Will give it an extra service soon but I hope it will last me a while. Hope you find a decent car.

Hi Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has helped with my MK1 Fabia over the last five years. I have just bought a replacement car, just fancied a change. Now to see what I can sell a 2006 1.2 HTP with nearly 150,000 miles for, been a great great car and this site has saved my bacon many times. Will keep reading the MK1 section I'm sure. Martin

Thanks sepulchrave, that sounds a possibility as well, I think I can now say it is the power steering fluid leaking. Repair would probably be beyond what I am capable of, so I will have to get a quote and see what costs are involved, fingers crossed not to expensive. Martin

😀 Could have been a spelling mistake I think. Martin

Yes, at least I know what area the leak is now, and I suppose that is better than it being the rack. I still might try the Lucas Oil and see if that helps as well. Martin

Thanks for the photo Lee, I have just been out again and rubbed my fingers through it and it has and oily consistency, but not engine oil. it sound silly, but the only way I can describe it is that it feels like bear oil, if that makes sense, so I assume it must be power steering fluid, but there seems to be a lot of it. I have not had a proper look yet, looks like I need to take the wheel off and the under wing cover and have a good look, I wonder if a pipe had corroded or something similar, I can still see power steering fluid in the reservoir though. The photo really helps though. Martin

Thanks Lee, I had not thought about it being screen wash, I have rubbed my fingers on it but it does not appear to smell of anything, is there anywhere the screen wash could leak from, but that's a good suggestion, I will have another look. Martin

Been away for the weekend and I have come home to a patch under the passenger side front wheel, and it's not oil. The steering fluid had dropped a bit, but I would have though it would have dropped more given how much there is under the wheel. I have bought some Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak, which I think I will try tomorrow and see what that does, but not looking to good. Martin

Hi Wino No I could not see any signs of a leak anywhere, I will have another look properly this weekend. If I'm honest I have not checked the level for a long time, I will be doing now though, there were no noises or warning lights, just the loss of the power steering for a few seconds every now and again. Martin

I managed to squeeze the gaiters and both did not feel squelchy, I did undo the end of both, squeezed and nothing came out. The steering is ok again now, so I will keep an eye on the fluid level. Martin

Brilliant thanks, I will look at this in the next few days, seems simple enough. Martin

Thanks for the advice, that sounds a good plan, the car is in good condition otherwise and would think it could go on for a while if this does not get worse. I have never done anything with the gaiters before, is it just like a jubilee clip I loosen then drain any fluid and replace? Martin

I will have a look, probably tomorrow now as the weather is not good, but does not look good though if there is a leak. I have been reading about sealing liquids you can buy, if the level drops again, I might try some of that to buy some time as given the age and value of the car I think it could be time to look at a new car, which would be a shame as this had been a good car so far. Martin

Just to update on this. I managed to get the cap off and I was hoping there would be some kind of measurement guide on the cap, as I had seen on videos showing where the power steering bottle was, but there was only a green stick as a guide on the cap, anyway, I unscrewed it, wiped it with a cloth and screwed it back on, but I could not see anything on the stick attached to the cap and it was also dry, so I assumed the level must be low. I bought some power steering fluid, the correct one, and put in nearly half of the bottle before I could feel anything on the stick on the cap, so I stopped there. The power steering is now back to normal, I will have to keep an eye on it as I assume there must be a problem somewhere, I have not checked the fluid for some time though. Martin

Cheers Sepulchrave, I thought it was worth asking, Will still check the level this weekend in case it needs topping up.

Hi Following on from this, I have not seen much more signs of any leaking but a couple of days ago, I noticed when corning it felt as though a tyre may be low on pressure, so I checked the pressures and they were fine. It was only the next day I realised it was in fact the power steering , I assume going off, for a few seconds, when turning a corner and going round a roundabout. I will check the power steering fluid at the weekend, currently I cannot get the cap off, as I need to buy a smaller monkey wrench to get at the cap. I'm just wondering if this could be the cause of the leak I thought was oil and if the level has dropped would it cause such an issue. I'm just seeing if anybody here had come across a low of power steering for just a short period, I know i will have to look into it as I assume it will only get worse. Thanks Martin

Thanks, I will check all the levels again this weekend, I never thought about it being residue, that could be the answer. I thought oil leak only because of the rainbow effect when it's wet, but there is nothing at all on the floor when the floor dries up I've not had an oil leak on a car for many years, and when I did, it left an obvious black patch in the floor. Thanks for the ideas, I will keep an eye on it, levels have been fine so far, no warning lights and the car is running very well. Martin

Hi This might sound a little odd, but I though my Skoda Fabia 1.2 HTP had an oil leak, not I'm not so sure. I noticed a few weeks ago, when it was raining, there was a stain on the floor where I had parked, off the road, to the rear of my house. Not a heavy oil stain but I could see a rainbow type affect to it, so I assumed oil, however when the floor had dried off, there was nothing on the floor. I checked under the bonnet and no signs of a leak and the oil level is fine. My car is the only vehicle parked on the back, due to work problems it has only been used a couple of times a week, instead of every day for the last couple of months. The same things has happened a couple of times since, staining to the floor where the car has been parked or even where i have pulled the car forward, leaving the engine running before opening the gates, some staining where the car was but only when wet and the oil level is fine. I always thought oil would produce a black stain on the floor if it was leaking, but looking now on a warm night, there is nothing on the floor. Could gearbox oil or power steering fluid cause staining to the floor when wet but disappear when dry. I hope that makes sense. Martin