Is my power steering reservoir clogged?

[Scoboblio]

Started the car this morning to a horrible squeeling noise from the PS pump. Having looked in the reservoir the fluid at the top was manky and bubbly - as if air had got inside.

 

Just to get me home I topped up with fresh fluid and tried to bleed the air out by starting the engine with the cap off - the bloody thing spat fluid about 6 foot in the air The result is that I now can't tell if there was a leak in the first place since the stuff went everywhere.

 

I know there's a filter in the reservoir which is likely to get a bit manky over time, does it sound like I need a new one? Just making sure this is the likely cause before I spend the £££.

[miko_supra]

i had the same issue on mine. to bleed the system jack the front of the car up in the air so that the front wheels are off of the ground. have the reservoir cap ON as normal. then fire up the engine and turn the steering wheel from left to right about 10-15 times (full lock) then turn off the engine and check fluid. top up if necessary and repeat, this should work fine.

[Scoboblio]

Thanks Out of curiosity how does the system bleed with the cap on?

 

Think I'll clean it up and check for a leak since the air's got in there somehow.

[miko_supra]

Thanks Out of curiosity how does the system bleed with the cap on?

 

Think I'll clean it up and check for a leak since the air's got in there somehow.

 

i wondered that too when i did it. but if you look on the pump there are too vacuum lines that go into it. so i imagine it has something to do with them. good luck!