Leaking power steering fluid reservoir cap.

[pfspeeddemon]

Folks,

No matter how much I tighten the power steering fluid reservoir cap on my 2002 MINI Cooper S it still "weeps" fluid out down the side of the reservoir...it's not much but I do have to keep wiping it up after each outing otherwise, if I didn't do that after each outing then it would make quite a mess. I don't see any seal on the cap. Do any of you know if there is a way to solve this problem ?

I'd appreciate your quick replies as I'd really like to get this sorted a.s.a.p. Thanks in advance.

[JRC65]

Hi, inside the cap there should be a thin "o" ring, remove this by lifting it out of the recess with something like a small screw driver. Replace with another one.
I did this on my daughters 02 cooper with exactly the same issue.
Try and get a new "o" ring which is slightly thicker which will compress down more when tightening the cap down.
Hope it helps

[pfspeeddemon]

Hi JRC65 and thanks for your advice. Great minds think alike! Before seeing your post I was at the garage where I have just taken off the oem seal and replaced it with a non-oem seal which I had in my box of assorted o-rings. It was of the same diameter but very slightly thicker which I believe should indeed work in my favour as to giving a better seal between the cap and the reservoir. The cap tightened up and I believe it won't leak as it sealed really well which is great because I don't have to wait until the local Mini agent gets me one. I'll let you know how it goes once I use the car.

Quote: Originally Posted by JRC65 (original)

Hi, inside the cap there should be a thin "o" ring, remove this by lifting it out of the recess with something like a small screw driver. Replace with another one.
I did this on my daughters 02 cooper with exactly the same issue.
Try and get a new "o" ring which is slightly thicker which will compress down more when tightening the cap down.
Hope it helps

[JRC65]

No problem, hope it sorts the problem out for you

[pfspeeddemon]

Quote: Originally Posted by JRC65 (original)

No problem, hope it sorts the problem out for you

Hi JRC65, I took the MCS out for a 15 min. shake-down drive today ("shake-down", because, literally, the car gets shaken down to its core on our atrocious, potholed and bumpy roads here in Malta) and returned to my garage, popped the bonnet and...voila, no leaks from the power steering reservoir cap ! The seal change did the trick ! Thanks for your advice !

[Acallahan]

Good to see that was a fix, someone had mentioned there was a breather hole in the cap and that it was a common issue to have the caps a little wet.

[pfspeeddemon]

Quote: Originally Posted by Acallahan (original)

Good to see that was a fix, someone had mentioned there was a breather hole in the cap and that it was a common issue to have the caps a little wet.

For the love of me, Acallahan, I cannot see this breather hole in my cap ! In fact, when mention was made of this hole I was totally stumped as to where it was...I still can't see it to this very day !

Anyways, one new seal later (slightly thicker than oem) and no more wet resrvoir due to leaky reservoir cap !