hey everyone,
i have a 12v b5 that has a pretty serious steering rack leak. first it whined alot since there was air in the system, now the power steering stopped working altogether.

it has been like that for a few weeks, and i can live with no power steering, but i was looking at how p/s belt is one and the same with all the others...

my question is, am i risking the life of my engine by running the p/s pump with little to no fluid in it? if it froze up it could cause some serious problems for me, but i was hoping maybe it would still spin even if the pump was toast.

thanks!

 

The danger is not to the engine but to the steering arrangement. My friends Mitsubishi steering pump failed and she was advised to change it a.s.a.p by her garage, and independently this also makes a lot of sense. If the car is worthless to you, carry on but if you value the car, get it fixed.

 

ok,
i was under the impression that the lack of fluid would just stop the power assist, not necessarily jepordize the steering itself...

 

if the pump is run dry it will destroy the pump, if the pump is not connected, it would just wear the pistons in the rack a little faster. the first scenario is more harmful.