Loss of power steering - help

[Mustang Baz]

Have not been able to perform a search on prior posts so bear with me. Took the car out this evening, and almost instantly noticed a loss in steering responsiveness. Over course of the next hour, steering wheel got more and more tough to turn, and when it did, I noticed an accompanying burning smell a couple of times. Back home and parking up, there is a clear leak on the tarmac of a thick, viscous fluid (not coolant) coming from close to the drivers side tyre, and I can also clearly see it coating some of the underside of the car in the same area. Steering was so tough toward the end that it was a struggle to turn into the road - not at all good and v concerning. Have checked power steering reservoir and all I can see is a little thick sludgy brown fluid - no dipstick apart from the tiny one attached to the inside of the cap, and fluid not high enough for dipstick to touch it. Manual, needless to say, is not too helpful.

Would really appreciate any guidance as this is a first.....

[yzf1070]

There certainly should not be any thick sludge in the resevoir. Its pretty obvoius that there is a leak, but where is anyones guess. I would begin with getting under the car and tracing the system out starting from the resevoir to the pump and from the pump to the rack and then back to the pump. I would guess that the leak is either at the pump or after, in the HP side and possibly the rack. Check the hoses carefully its possibe one has been damaged. Try topping up the fluid resevoir and get someone to operate the steering....engine running, you look under the car and see if you can see any leaking fluid, if so this gives you a starter for one (DO NOT crawl under a suspended car when it is running). Its also possible that the seals in the rack have gone....but in reality if there is sludge in the resevoir its high time the whole system was subjected to a good overhaul. Has it been serviced properly?

Good luck

[Mustang Baz]

Many thanks for this - helpful. Car has been fully dealer serviced since it was made, and I have been a regular at Racing Green for the last 18mths (sometimes regrettably!). In touch with Martin now about this, as concerned.

[Mustang Baz]

Anyone else out there had any issues with power steering leaks/cost to fix?