Help!!! power steering pump leak or timing cover leak?

I really hope some experts can help me on this:

I posted here just a couple of days ago about a potential timing cover leak. Today, I took the skid plate off and looked from underneath. And seem to find the main leaking point:


This is taken from underneath looking up. It seems that where I pointed with arrows are the leaking spots. Do experts agree? The problem is that it is right behind the fan, so the fan has blown the liquid everywhere, as shown clearly in the picture.

The most important question is: is this a bad power steering pump (based on youtube videos, it seems to be easy to replace it myself) or the dread timing cover leak?

Problem is I don't seem to see any loss in either engine oil or power steering fluid (although I really don't drive much, especially now in shutdown). One problem started this whole process was that I realized about two months ago that my pump steering fluid was way overfilled and overflowing from the resevior (I had to remove quite some fluid using a baster).

I know someone suggested to take it to the dealer -- but I just bought this used truck from the dealer (they clearly lied to me on several things -- I don't want to get into this here). So I just don't trust them -- I feel even if it is just the power steering pump, they will still tell me it is the timing cover leak, just to charge me thousands of dollar for the repair.

This is why I want to diagnose this myself. If it is power steering pump, it seems I can replace it myself.

Please help me!

 

Yes，70k miles, just out of warranty.

I have just clean the area with three cans of carb clean. I will try the foot powder trick.

Thanks.

 

Is this a kinked harness or bent fluid or power steering line?

 

It is a electrical wire going to the power steering pump.

 

Looks like timing cover to me. You can try the UV dye to be sure, but thats a notorious timing cover giveaway.

 

Thank you! This is the tip I am looking for. Do you mean adding UV dye into the engine oil? Do you know which UV dye I should buy? I assume I can't use the UV dye for the air conditioning system in cars (I have a bottle), can I?

 

Looks like it's dropping on to that shaft and spining being flung around splattering it all over.
Timing cover by the dark brown oil.
Ps fluid is more clearish.

 

Thank you! I will try to add this UV dye:

$8 InterDynamics Certified Auto Pro Oil and Fuel System UV Dye Leak Detection for Cars & Trucks & More, 1 Oz, 374CS, Universal

https://www.amazon.com/Interdynamics-Certified-Fuel-Systems-Ounce/dp/B002M4G24U/

Just to be sure.

 

Yep run a few hundred miles and try to track. I'd check every day every other day otherwise it might be hard to pinpoint the source.

 

Thank you so much, Duckytw!!

 

Timing chain cover. Just got mine done 4 weeks ago. Dealership will fix it for free if under 60000 miles. They had it for two weeks even though they only worked on it for 1 week.

 

That does not look like a driveway project. As for FishSailor, i'd just monitor it and see if it doesn't leak that much. It's a really slow leak from what i've read.

 

Absolutely not, at least for me. My truck is 70k, so out of warranty. Someone showed me an estimate on another thread that it costs ~4000. Ahh...

 

Thanks a lot, Madmax134!

In fact, I just checked my truck, since I cleaned it very well yesterday (and went on a one hour run). It is quite clear that the leak is coming from above (and behind) the power steering pump. So I believe it is timing cover leak. :<

 

I would still bring it into the dealership to have them look at it. This is a well documented problem in the 16 & 17 Tacos and they may cover the cost.

 

Now I need to check mine...

 

I really hope Toyota will step up and announce an official recall on this. It does seem to be a common-place problem that is clearly a quality control issue on the manufacturer's part. I wonder if there is anything we can do as owners to push for this.

 

@Bishop84


How big of a job is the timing cover?

 

Most of the time they remove the engine to fix it.

 

It's a big job and they won't issue a recall unless there's a class action lawsuit like the frames. Like i said before, it's a really slow leak so you'll be fine for awhile. I'd keep driving and keep researching. Or, like others have said, take it to the dealer, but they'll probably say it's your fault. Just being honest.