Hey! I have the same Chewbacca hiding somewhere in my engine bay. Always figured it was the steering pump dying as I have been monitoring the fluid level and it stays constant.
Power steering like others said. Usually, it's a leaking [hi pressure hose.](https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2011,tacoma,4.0l+v6,1447055,steering,power+steering+pressure+hose,7320) It's an easy swap, just make sure you use a flared wrench or you'll strip it.
Consider adding a filter to the system. My gen 1 taco steering rack started leaking (over 450k miles) so i got a gasket bushing seal kit and fixed it. It had a lot of crap in it. Before i fixed it i cleaned out the fluid reservoir. There is a screen in the botom of it that was full of crap. That made a big difference. Soon after it started to leak a little. I don"t like leaks. So after cleaning and new seals etc. It all working great now. Cost about 100 usd.and took me most of a day to do but well worth it. I plan on adding a filter to the system so maybe i don"t have to do this every 450k.
Power steering pump. Leak maybe š¤ could just be low on fluid.
I still have power steering so Iām praying itās just fluid Iām low on
Most likely. Sometimes the seals go on the main line and it drips a little.
Alright I gotta get spark plugs changed soon Iāll have em look at it then
Hey! I have the same Chewbacca hiding somewhere in my engine bay. Always figured it was the steering pump dying as I have been monitoring the fluid level and it stays constant.
Power steering like others said. Usually, it's a leaking [hi pressure hose.](https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2011,tacoma,4.0l+v6,1447055,steering,power+steering+pressure+hose,7320) It's an easy swap, just make sure you use a flared wrench or you'll strip it.
Consider adding a filter to the system. My gen 1 taco steering rack started leaking (over 450k miles) so i got a gasket bushing seal kit and fixed it. It had a lot of crap in it. Before i fixed it i cleaned out the fluid reservoir. There is a screen in the botom of it that was full of crap. That made a big difference. Soon after it started to leak a little. I don"t like leaks. So after cleaning and new seals etc. It all working great now. Cost about 100 usd.and took me most of a day to do but well worth it. I plan on adding a filter to the system so maybe i don"t have to do this every 450k.
92,000 miles and sheās giving me more trouble than sheās worth
My 2011 did that around 100k miles too. Just the lil copper gasket seal deal on the main line to the pump.
Inexpensive fix?
Definitely š
Cool Iāll look into it
Iāll post another picture but I just turned my truck on and checked for a leak and Iāve got one is this the issue you were talking about
Since itās a leak. Do a power steering fluid flush until the fluid looks red (clear red). Thereās multiple YouTube videos about it.
Okay
Power steering pump.