Leak from steering column.

Came to my 1998 Prerunner to find a leak here on the floor mat. Looks like it's power steering coming from the column - is there a seal in there that's failed/easily replaced?

 

You better take a look under the hood, something has to be spraying to push fluid up through the column like that. The steering column has no fluid in it, everything goes through the rack, lines, and pump.

 

Any chance you're losing brake fluid?

Have you been checking that?

 

Someone on the 1st gen facebook group says it could be grease from the column, if it got hot enough it could have thinned out and started dripping. Which makes total sense because I'm in Central FL and it was 95 degrees today parked in the sun at work. It's the right color for sure being reddish...I'm guessing there's no way to prevent this then if its just grease?

 

Yep. Had this on my 3rd gen when I got off work today. Not the first time either. 100 degrees today. Only a couple drops. Mine is coming from the telescoping part of the column. Mine looks more like motor oil.

 

that was my first thought low temperature grease turned liquid and dripped on the floor

 

I have seen all manner of strange things .

Valid Point .

 

That's interesting, I've never seen that and it get's really hot here all the time.

 

I wonder did OP have the windows closed in the sun?

 

It was 103 here today, windows up or not interior temps are 130+