Skyhook possible leak?

petronic

petronic

Junior Member
Messages
151
Advice needed - returned on Sunday from a short drive nothing exceptional no issues. Pulled up at house and smoke/steam came from the front grill. Stopped then moved into the parking position. Very gently opened the bonnet with engine off. More steam smelt oil based product not burning. On inspection so far could see some "fluid" on the drivers side down towards the top of the suspension with a small black tube going into a "grommets/seal". It appeared fluid near by and some on the engine down low so at present making an assumption something has blown in this area.

Checked steering and brake fluid no issues at present. Went to the location I stopped a few feet away and found red clear fluid on the ground? only a small amount go a tissue soaked some up yep red in colour smelt like hydraulic fluid?

So had another look inside the bonnet nothing extra to say at tis time. Parked it up and covered in its winter cover set up.

So has not moved or been started since Sunday cannot do anything until Saturday. So please any suggestions of my next action please and anyone had this issue before? could the small hose have blown? is the car safe to move to my mechanics garage 2 miles away? what can I check further?

How is skyhook topped up if required - have not researched this yet. Or performed any additional checks until any advice from you.

So any advice gratefully accepted
 
Gp79

Gp79

Member
Messages
1,398
Sounds like steering fluid leak, even small amount will make a lot of smoke. This is ATF, red in colour

Check the hoses that run in front of engine down to the steering rack.

Skyhook is the electronically controlled dampers, each damper is a sealed unit.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,811
I'd have thought ATF as well, but as an outsider, coolant? The header tanks leak, no?

Skyhook are sealed indeed

C
 
hashluck

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,525
Sounds like steering fluid to me as well. Did you have the car on full lock at any point when you were moving it? Can increases the strain
 
petronic

petronic

Junior Member
Messages
151
Thanks for the help always appreciated. Will look this weekend when it is the "air" is their any particular hose/joint that fails?

Thanks peter
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,633
Gp79 said:
Sounds like steering fluid leak, even small amount will make a lot of smoke. This is ATF, red in colour

Check the hoses that run in front of engine down to the steering rack.

Skyhook is the electronically controlled dampers, each damper is a sealed unit.
Click to expand...

Yes, this was my thoughts too.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,633
petronic said:
Thanks for the help always appreciated. Will look this weekend when it is the "air" is their any particular hose/joint that fails?

Thanks peter
Click to expand...


The common one is the seals in the rack so expect to see fluid around the steering gaiters. Might be an idea to release them and see if they are clear of fluid, you can use a zip/cable tie to put them back on if there is some fancy metal clip (cut it off). Other than that it will be one of the supply pipes to the rack. The fluid can come out of the top of the reservoir too but think thats the other side from your leak.
 
petronic

petronic

Junior Member
Messages
151
Excellent link awaiting my mechanic to come around hopefully this afternoon - we will see again thanks peter
 
spkennyuk

spkennyuk

Member
Messages
5,964
The other known week spot is the power steering radiator. On the 4200 look through the front grill on the drivers side. The PAS rad sit in front of the normal radiator and is a U shaped tube with fins inbetween around 3 inches in height. Look for it looking wet. They tend to fail round the U section. The red ATF fluid drips down and around the under tray so can drop fluid further back than the actual leak.

If its a bad leak you wont be able to see the red ATF fluid in the reservoir. It will look greyish inside if little or no fluid in the reservoir.

You will also start getting a grinding noise as you turn the steering wheel towards full lock as more air gets into the system.

If it turn out to be the PAS rad then there are alternatives available to the silly prices from the main suppliers.
 
petronic

petronic

Junior Member
Messages
151
Update yep pin ***** hole in the lower of the 2 pipes. Only when on full lock it shot towards the side of the engine. So it would appear this could be the issue i hope. Picking up set of replacement upper and lower pipework sat. Will keep you posted. Thanks peter
 
BL330

BL330

Member
Messages
1,123
As the topic was already here, I appear to have a leaking rear skyhook shock absorber.
People have said on here they are sealed units.
Is there a repair / rebuild service anywhere?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.