Land Rover Repair: Land Rover power steering leak, original equipment manufacturer, power steering pump

Question
I have a leak - not from the hoses, but looks like it is under the power steering pump. Pump still works, but you fill up the reservoir and then two days later, it's out again. Is that a huge expensive undertaking to repair? You can see it pooling on the bar beneath the pump. Does it have to go to a transmission shop or should any mechanic be able to repair it.  I'm hours away from any Land Rover dealership.  I live in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  

Answer
Hi Rebecca,

yes, you can have a local garage replace the PS pump.  I did it in my driveway and it took me less than an hour.  You can order the part from LR, Atlantic British or replace it with a salvaged part.

I purchased a salvaged PS pump from a local auto wrecker.  It cost me $35 for the pump and I had it FEDEX'd to my home for an additional charge.  You could do this too!

For salvaged parts, www.car-part.com

For Atlantic British rebuilt or new parts:

wwww.roverparts.com

LR dealers will ship parts too, but it will cost you even more.

Best price is from salvage, next would be rebuilt and then OEM (original equipment manufacturer) in that order.

I think a new PS pump is about $600 while rebuilt can be about $400.  You can see why I chose the salvaged part option.

I've installed the part and its been over a year with no trouble.  Most salvage yards will bench test the pump before shipping to make sure it works.  The warranty is not the same as rebuilt or new BUT these components rarely fail.  For $35 to $60 it's worth the risk.  

Most likely, the leak is from the seal on the shaft for the pulley wheel.  There are bearings in there and eventually it will seize up on you.  Best to fix this before you are stuck somewhere remote and at the mercy of a local garage that you don't know!

Best of luck,

JohnMc

NB:  most salvage yards and 3rd party (aftermarket) parts suppliers ship anywhere in the US.  Some for free.  Just perform a google search on car parts, power steering pump and your land rover.

LAST WORD: if you do have your local mechanic repair the PS pump MAKE SURE they study how the serpentive belt is fed around the pulleys.  Most don't and when it comes to reinstalling the belt, they put it on wrong.  Have they write down the correct path BEFORE the service is performed.