Where oh where is my power steering fluid leaking?

My 2006 Honda Accord Coupe 4cyl, automatic, 41,000 mi.uses lots of power steering fluid. I add some every month. I checked for visible leaks, under the hood on all the hose connections, and found none. Also there are no wet spots on my driveway. I can't go under the car because I have a bad back. Where else would it be leaking from? Should I take it to a mechanic?



the one place where power steering oil can leak and not be visible is through an end seal of the power steering rack. The power steering rack and pinion (steering gear) uses expandable rubber bellows that are clamped on to the end of the rack housing on each end. the other end of each bellows is clamped to the tie rod. the purpose of the bellows is to keep dirt from getting to the rack end seal as the tie rod slides in and out of the housing during turns.





if the end seal is leaking the fluid will leak from the rack into the bellows. it will not leak out because the bellows is clamped to the housing and the tie rod and expands and contracts. when the bellows contracts the fluid is pushed back into the rack; when it expands the fluid can move outward towards the tie rod and fill the bellows.





this condition can go on for years before its a problem.





the only other place to look is the back of the power steering pump. the pump only has two seals, one on the housing and one on the shaft behind teh pulley. if that's dry then the rack end seal is the only place the fluid can leak from





hope that helps




could be a power steering pump o-ring, but i would take to a guy to look at it.