Power steering fluid leaking. I have taken it to the mechanic 3 times and they can’t repair it. Any suggestions?
It is usually the high pressure hose, leaks at a connection, often the connection nearest the PS pump. . Every time you turn the steering wheel that hose flexes, eventually small cracks form in the rubber & produce a leak. The solution is to replace the high pressure hose with a new one. Was that done?
The other common leak source is the power steering pump’s shaft seal. Maybe your mechanics are thinking the leak is one of those, but it is actually the other. Suggest to remove all the visible PS fluid in the area, then watch carefully for where the leak is coming from.
PS leaks can be made worse by driving style. Especially when parking, turning the steering wheel all the way to where it stops and can’t be turned any further, that maneuver will often lead to more and earlier PS leaks.
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I understand if they can’t repair the leaking part, but why won’t they replace the leaking part?
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A new mechanic may help. However, I’m on my fourth Subaru. I have learned from the other three that they are not like Toyotas. There comes a time, and 20 years may be that time, when they are just past fixing. On the Legacy GT I owned, a mechanic finally said what yours is saying. 'I am just not going to fix that thing anymore." We donated it. The others we traded in around 100K or ten years to avoid unfixable heat shields and other Suby-specific repair hassles. Just offering my opinion here as a fan of the brand. My current Suby is 7 years old. I’ve got my eye on its replacement already.
Search for a different Subaru specialist in your area, see what they say.
It doesn’t need to be a Subaru specialist.
Why?
There’s nothing special about a Subaru.
You just need a better mechanic.
Tester
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They have their quirks.
Get a different (better) mechanic.
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If you change all parts then leak should be fixed. Pump, reservoir, hoses, rack. What else is there?
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+1
This isn’t really rocket science. The OP needs a new mechanic.
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That seems like an odd thing for a mechanic to say. After all, anything on that vehicle could be fixed given enough time and money. And the mechanic would earn considerable money from the labor hours. Do you think the mechanic was actually saying: " I’d recommend you part ways with your Subaru, b/c repairs are soon going to prove very expensive."
My family members owned an early 80’s Subaru with the complicated electric-carb. That car ran well when it was working for the first 12 years, but was starting to develop difficult to diagnose carb problems. Eventually the mechanic was hearing complaints about the diagnostic labor fees, and seeing even higher fees ahead, recommended selling the car. The mechanic bought it, presumably did the diagnosis & repairs in his spare time. Car was seen on the local roads for 10-15 years afterward.
That’s true but customers saying they will pay for any and all repairs and actually extracting that money from them could be a challenge when the reality that they spent more than they could afford, or the car was worth, comes home to roost. Then the mechanic is stuck holding the bag. Not saying John falls into that category but I’m sure mechanics see more than their fair share of balkers after the work is done or when the realization that additional, expensive work is needed to complete the job.
Plus, I assume like all professions, there are undesirable jobs. Why take on a PITA job that has considerable risk when there may be other more lucrative and enjoyable jobs lined up behind it waiting.
One of the issues with the current scheme at most dealerships and other shops is the potential for the “gravy jobs” to be doled out to the precious few that may have curried favor with the shop manager… then others get stuck with the stinkers that don’t pay much and are aggravating work…
?? Do you mean the mechanic may work so many hours on the diagnosis that the labor fee is more than the car is worth, then, rather than paying up, the customer walks away, leaves the car with the mechanic , who then has to try to sell it themselves in order to recoup the labor fee? If so, that’s a good point why a mechanic might refuse to work on a car. Of course if the customer insisted, the mechanic could require full payment up front before starting.
Years ago I was offered a PITA job. 7 days a week, tedious work from 7 pm to 7 am. It paid so well I had no choice but to take it ! And very happy I did! … lol . .
That and/or the actual work. Mechanics aren’t generally known for the pay in advance approach. At work, we have cash in advance for trouble customers or those whose business model looks shaky.
Yes, sometimes regret not asking for more when you bid exceptionally high because don’t really want the work and then they quickly accept.
What an odd business model. I mean, that’s like me walking in to a restaurant and the staff saying “Sir, we’re just not going to feed you any more.”
I understand the sentiment behind it, but why say it that way? I know of several shops that have limits on what they work on–like “XYZ Auto, servicing Japanese cars 2003 and newer”. But to pick on you specifically?
For years, my motto was “You keep paying, we keep fixing.”
Of course that led to someone spending over $12,000 to keep this fine car on the road…
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Dang.
I can see that blowing up in the face at some point.
Someone who can easily afford to spend $12k in repairs probably doesn’t do it on that car.
Later, a relative or friend tells them what a foolish thing that is and convinces them the shop took advantage. Then they take every opportunity to tell everyone how they got rooked, in order to save face about spending so much… that thought would give me pause. But there are the rare cases where the customer is capable and a little off the beaten track 
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It was always a comedy of errors with these people. Several times I advised them that I wouldn’t put any more money in this car. It usually ended with “If you don’t want to fix it we’ll pay someone else to do it…”
There was a burned out street light and she missed a turn, ended up halfway in the ditch. We had to replace the tire, wheel, strut, tie rod, etc. 2 weeks later the city hadn’t fixed the street light yet and she drove into the same ditch. Only this time she tore open the trans pan.
The brake warning light burned out so she drove all day with the parking brake on.
And so on… Finally one day I printed a customer history that showed in a 4 year period they had spent over $12K on that 20 year old car. So they went and bought a new Hyundai. Within the first 2 years I ended replacing a lower control arm, rear brakes, and several other “non-wear” items on that car. Some people are just hard on their cars.
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Generally speaking–yes, but I know a guy who consistently shoots himself in the foot with his decisions–both financial and everyday. The way that he “saves money” inevitably costs him much more in the long run.
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Is that a Ford Tempo/Mercury Topaz? I haven’t seen one of those on the road for a while…but I remember they were great cars.
Some people would feel that $3,000 depreciation each year for 4 years on a new car is less than $12,000 in repairs on an old car during the same time frame.
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