I drive a 2001 Honda Accord V6. Today, i noticed some brown fluid had leaked onto my garage floor (just a couple of splotches). I opened the hood and some fluid had pooled onto a pan underneath the power steering reservoir. I can't exactly locate the source of the leak however. Any advice on how I can locate the leak? I've posted some photographs of what I'm seeing.

 

You will have to clean up the ps reservoir, the hoses, and the connections to the power steering pump to locate the leak. You can spray something like athlete's foot powder to help locate leaks.

Look where the hoses attach for leaks. The hose in pic #3 looks like it may be leaking at the reservoir. There is also an o-ring where the second hose connects to the fuel pump that you don't have in a picture.

 

Nice pics! The low level also leads me to think it's the power steering lines. Is the ps fluid the same color as the puddle? The reservoir needs more fluid too, but it's better to repair the leak first, ideally.

 

I cleaned up the area around the steering lines and reservoir and then took the car for another drive. I noticed some more leaked fluid after the drive as shown in the first photo. I traced it to the source and it seems to be the motor mount as shown in the 2nd photo. Does the motor mount have fluid in it?

I agree with the previous poster that i have an issue with my steering lines as evidenced by the gunk built up around them as seen in my first posts. But, perhaps, they are not the source of this leak.

Any thoughts?

 

The motor mount is just rubber, so fluid the leak is from somewhere else.

Some of the lines look like they are dirty. Try cleaning with a soapy rag and dry. Using something like the spray athlete's foot powder on clean parts should help locate the leak.

 

Check if there's a noticeable decrease in the engine oil level. I think I got it wrong telling you the ps fluid needs to be topped up. The level is where it needs to be when cold.


My guess is its the ps lines, from the location. I haven't changed ps fluid on this model yet, so if the color is different, you can rule that out. Perhaps EVAP components?? Valve cover gasket is a distant thought, but I doubt it.

 

While doing a check of my own, turns out I have a similar leak in the vicinity, and because my particular model has an ABS module right next to the power steering and the fluid level on the module is below the minimum, mine may be due to whatever in that, be it O-ring or some line connection. The whole area underneath is soaked. I remember topping it off last summer, so I wonder. It looks like on your accord you have ABS/brake lines too...