Power Steering Fluid Reservoir

[el guapo]

All,

Has anyone had to replace their power steering fluid reservior? Mine has started to ooze around the area where the top half and bottom half of the resevoir mate. I called the two local dealers and they are asking $173 and $197 at each.

Any help in where to get a better deal would be greatly appreciated.

[Jetfixer]

Did you check out the junkyards?

[SleeperSolara]

Yeah check the salvage yard for some.
You should be lookin' for 98 through 2000 Camry will work with the Solara that are Gen1.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

Wov, i've gone thru high pressure hoses for P/s but never a resivor. If your changing the resovor might as well change high pressure hoses.

[el guapo]

Well, I went by a local junkyard and found a P/S fluid reservoir for $20. Its in great shape, still attached to a closed P/S system full of P/S fluid on a poor 2000 Camry with 43K on it.

When it was pulled off and drained, I noticed sludge had formed on the bottom of both compartments of the reservoir. I talked with a service rep and a tech from one of the local Toyota dealerships and was told to rinse the reservoir out with warm water, let it air dry, then pour in some brake fuild, shake it around, and drain to remove any remaining mosture prior to installing it. The warm water approach didn't produce and results. I sealed off both the ends with some spare tranny hose I have and poured in a 1:3 ratio of Simple Green and water. I shook it around and let it sit overnight. This morning, the mixture was a dark brown/green but it sure looked clean after I poured everthing out.

I rised and shook the reservoir about then times over to make sure I got all of the Simple Green out prior to letting it air dry (which is what its doing right now).

Anyone have any input on this approach prior to me installing it?

Which is the fluid return hose (to the reservoir)? The thinner one that connects to a metal hose that runs between the engine and radiator? Or the all rubber one that runs up to the reservoir from the P/S pump?

Anyone ever flushed their P/S system before?

Thanks to all,
El Guapo

[StockSolara]

Someone did a tutorial on flushing the p/s http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=14084

[el guapo]

Thanks StockSolara,

I'll be doing that this afternoon.