Power steering pump leaking on the bottom side hose, does pump need to be replaced or can the hose just be replaced and how difficult . 1991 nissan maxima.

Power Steering Box Dirty

I would guess the steering fluid has gummed up your solenoid, making it difficult for your starter to engage the solenoid.

That line rusts and then leaks. Replace the line. This fairly difficult so you can just cut both lines at the bottom where they come from the pump and connect them with a short rubber hose and use hose clamps to fasten them. The Power steering might not work quite as well, but will work.

replace power steering pump, belt, replace with clean power steering fluid, replace power steering hoses as well. if its making a sound look for leaks, try stop leak first.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   
2. If necessary, remove the air cleaner duct and the air cleaner.
   
3. Remove the drive belt from the air conditioning compressor, if equipped.
   
4. Loosen power steering pump belt adjustment as follows:
   
   1. Loosen the pivot and mounting bolts.
      
   2. Loosen the idler pulley locknut and turn the adjusting nut counterclockwise to remove the power steering belt.
      
5. Loosen the power steering hoses at the pump and remove the bolts holding the power steering pump to the bracket.
   
6. Disconnect and plug the power steering hoses and remove the pump from the vehicle.
   

To install:

1. Using new O-rings, connect the power steering hoses to the steering pump.
   
2. Install the power steering pump and secure it with its mounting bolts. Tighten the front and rear mounting bolts to specifications.
   
3. Install the remaining components in the reverse order from which they were removed.
   
4. Connect the negative battery cable.
   
5. Fill the power steering system, start the engine and turn the steering wheel from side-to-side to bleed air from system
   

Very common problem on this car. Usually it is a combination of 2 items: the pressure hose to the rack & pinion and the power steering pump itself. Since the hose is located above the pump it most likely will look as if the pump is leaking. Suggestion: if the hose is wet, replace it first (it's a 2 piece deal), then thoroughly clean the area including the pump. Run the car for awhile and recheck for leaks. No leaks - you got off cheap. :)

Stop driving it before you ruin the pump or steering rack. Replace any leaking hoses, flush the system with correct fluid and fill.

Three areas of concern. A leaking steering rack: By looking under the car, look for the rods which tie the left and right wheels together in the center. By turning the steering wheel fully to the left or right, you can look behind the front wheels 1/2 way down and you will see the rod I am referring to. Following the rod to it source of attachment, it will have a rubber bellows type cover surrounding is as it gets near the center of the car. If the rubber is torn and has oily residue, that is where you are loosing your power steering fluid. It is a leaking power steering rack. A fairly expensive repair, best left to a professional. Buying a used one is a real crapshoot because they are very prone to failure as they get older.
2. The high pressure hoses will leak on these cars. It is difficult to see these without putting the car on a lift because the pump is on the firewall side of the engine. If you notice the fluid dripping near the pump, it is a higher probability than not that it is the high pressure hose than the pump. Also look at the return hose coming from the reservoir, Sometimes the clamps aren't that tight and it will cause a leak, but your description sounds like a leak under pressure.

three things to check the powersteering hose, the pump and the steering rack itself usualy the power steering hose and the steering rack usualy go bad in them

I just found 1 of my power steering leaks in my 1990 toy pickup. My high pressure line has a hole in it. I used a florecent die kit to locate the leak. You can get it at Autozone.