As the title states, I just got my car back from an autobody shop after having been T-boned last week and I heard some strange rattling sound so I looked under the hood, only to find this reservoir without a cap! What is this reservoir for??

 

powersteering

 

wow that sux.. i could goto the dealer ASAP and get one.. can't be that expensive.. $5?

 

I would call the shop and tell them that they need to either find your PS cap or give you the money to purchase one from the dealer.

 

haha thanks for the quick responses. I had my mechanic friend check it and he verified powersteering. I just got off the phone w/ the shop...they said they have no clue why they would've removed it but that he'd get me a new one ASAP.

 

...and he also said to just cover it w/ tin foil for now lol. should I be worried about air getting into the lines...? kinda like how brakes seize up when there is air in the lines?

 

Your brakes don't seize up when they have air in the lines, they become mush... and don't work. But I wouldn't worry about the air in the system but more about dirt getting0 inside the reservoir. I really wouldn't drive until you get the new cap.

 

Your missing your power steering cap. Call them and take another car to get a replacement for the missing one.

 

Read Yoshi...

 

this is not for the brake. It's Powersteering oil reservoir. And I think the car is still fine without that cap, just cover it with something like the OP did. Foil wrap, anything. And wait for a new cap, not a big deal.

 

Do not use Tin Foil,

If you must drive the car before getting the proper cap...

the fluid can end up on the foil and cause a chemical reaction that could leave you with a contaminated power steering system. Use a piece of plastic from a pop bottle, fast food cup or something like that (cut it to fit) and use blue painters tape to secure it (no residue on the threads that way). Obviously just a temp fix but I have personal experience with using foil as a temp cover, had a customer do exactly that and the entire system had to be flushed and refilled (it was discolored from the foil), about 3 months later he came back and his pump had failed. Of course he had the foil on there for a few weeks but not worth taking the chance IMO.

Best of Luck!
Jason

 

Thanks a lot for this information =) I'll see if I can dig something up.