Hi, 

 

I'm having some trouble, I noticed my power steering seemed odd lately and the fluid was lower, went under the car and noticed the leak now... to me it seems the leak is coming from the drivers side near the diff/gearbox if I'm not mistaken LHD model, did a seal go or what do you guys think? Sorry if this has been asked before :/

That looks more like gearbox oil leaking from the diff seals. If the rack seals are leaking it will be going into the rack bellows and possibly coming out of them

Edited 28 July, 20178 yr by TMB

Oh damn is there a seal between the diff and gearbox that might have gone?

Sorry I'm dumb so it might just be the seal on the left of the diff? 

There are oil seals where the inner CV joints go into the gearbox. A little coating of oil around there isn't unusual though.

 

Seems you need to investigate the loss of steering fluid as well though.

Edited 28 July, 20178 yr by TMB

Dunno if I'm loosing psf but it seemed odly low, and guessing this leak is something else well thats disturbing me :/

I wouldn't worry too much about the diff seals unless it's actually dripping. Just check gearbox oil level.

Edited 28 July, 20178 yr by TMB

It's not dripping but it's oily though, gona go to my middle school where they also had car mechanics beginning of september then and let them have a look at if they can fix the seals, hopefully my car will survive 400 km's more since it does seem like its a verry slow leak probs

It could go for miles and miles like that. It's the power steering that's more worrying.

Edited 28 July, 20178 yr by TMB

Well I watched this video and the guy mentions every bit of the issues i had lately 

 

the clunking noise etc all had it... so guess its new cv joints, well I did look for the power steering if there would be leaks but saw nothing is it normal over 2 years that i had the car that the power steering fluid just dropped a little not like emty but the fluid at the reservoir is barely touching the dipstick and when i had the car it was like 1-2mm higher

Steering fluid shouldn't really go down. It has to be going somewhere. What steering issues are you having?

Just seemed off like its hard to turn the wheel in general but if I'm gona replace cv joints I'll have them get a good look at my suspension, bushings, bearings etc and I'll deffo mention they need to check the power steering

If the steering is heavy, first check is your front tyre pressures followed by your battery and charging system. The Fabia has an electric pump for the power steering which draws a large current and if your battery etc are poor it won't work well.

And how do i check the charging system or battery any specific procediure?

power steering fluid has gone down past the dipstick on both my fabias when i checked them. I put it down to both never been checked in 11-12 years and possibly just settling into the system slightly since where the vehicle was new and everythings been run in. Possibly its leaking very slightly from somewhere but you wont notice.

As for those diff seals, they arent dripping so you arent loosing much. Id fill up the PSF and then keep and eye on the level for now.

I'd think that it will need very little power steering fluid to get that level back up, remember that there will be a difference between the "cold" level and the "hot level.

Checked the psf both cold and hot only slightly higher when warm as far the diff leak i have lal the comon issues with bad cv joints, the ratteling, clucnks over bumps and the particular nois when accelerating so my gues is clean it up underneath, fill her up with psf and keep an eye on where the leak is coming from. As for the battery and charging system how do I check the charging system? And how do I check the battery for the power it can deliver? I know how to check the voltage without it being connected but still.

You can't check the battery for cold cranking current, only voltage, with a petrol engine you should be fine anyway.

2 hours ago, KillerTom500 said:

Checked the psf both cold and hot only slightly higher when warm as far the diff leak i have lal the comon issues with bad cv joints, the ratteling, clucnks over bumps and the particular nois when accelerating so my gues is clean it up underneath, fill her up with psf and keep an eye on where the leak is coming from. As for the battery and charging system how do I check the charging system? And how do I check the battery for the power it can deliver? I know how to check the voltage without it being connected but still.

 

Clunks over bumps will be nothing at all to do with the CV joints. More likely to be the drop links. Could also be track rod ends, steering arm joints inside rack bellows, anti-roll bar bushes, console bushes, bottom ball joints etc. The suspension needs checking properly.

 

Edited 28 July, 20178 yr by TMB

1 hour ago, TMB said:

 

Clunks over bumps will be nothing at all to do with the CV joints. More likely to be the drop links. Could also be track rod ends, steering arm joints inside rack bellows, anti-roll bar bushes, console bushes, bottom ball joints etc. The suspension needs checking properly.

 

 

You sir are scaring me hahaha, and as of now I wen't for a late night spirited drive I've noticed my steering feels heavyer when letting off the gas so when desellerating does that ring any bells to anyone and that wasn't there before though

Sorry for scaring you

 

It's all just common stuff you would check on most cars. Drop links are a very common cause of knocking/clunking over bumps. Suspension/steering all needs to be healthy if the car is to drive nicely and quietly. Most of it is very simple stuff.

 

Not sure why your steering would go heavier with deceleration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just one thing, if you are adding any power steering fluid, make sure that it is compatible with what VW Group have filled that system with.

2 hours ago, rum4mo said:

Just one thing, if you are adding any power steering fluid, make sure that it is compatible with what VW Group have filled that system with.

 

Don't be daft, it's only hydraulic oil, it doesn't matter, any ATF will do just fine.

2 hours ago, rum4mo said:

Just one thing, if you are adding any power steering fluid, make sure that it is compatible with what VW Group have filled that system with.

 

I got this bottle last week 25 euros lol VW TL774 compliant.

Maybe okay, but from what I can find out about VW TL774, is, it is an engine coolant additive coloured purple and sold typically as G13 etc etc, so maybe check which VW spec that power steering fluid is?

 

Edit;- being bored I've checked further, and what that is, is compliant to VW TL 52146, which is indeed a green power steering fluid sold by VW Group as G00 400 00 M2 which is good!

Edited 31 July, 20178 yr by rum4mo