Power stering cap blows off....

If you still have the original type reservoir your guy is correct, the plastic is trash and is not compatible long term with the liquids it is designed to hold.

A new cap will not solve your problem. Get a new updated (ZF) reservoir and a new mounting bracket and replace the entire unit.

 

Gary -

I assume you still have the old tank/clamp in the car. The new tank looks like this:

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=204781

(and requires a new clamp too)
http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=206235

I have just emailed you (to the .jp addy) a revised document. All your other stuff is scheduled to ship today.

 

That is the one I have on my car - hopefully no problems with that one..

 

Engine #44529 was the first one to receive the updated PS tank; I have sold a bushel of the new ones, so I assume most/many/lots of older cars have already been updated.

 

Where is the engine # posted??

 

.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Ok I finally found my engine #, it is *45something* (hard to see behind the wires) so it's later than that. So I assume it is ok.

 

Actually... there's an easier way to tell. Just look at the stoopid tank. If the twisty cap (top-most part of the tank) is the size of a silver dollar, you've got a new tank. If it's the diameter of a beer can, you've got the old one.

(Technical side note: my beer can measurement is based on good ol' Budweiser. A Fosters or Boddington is not an accurate tool, nor a tasty beverage)

 

So the silver dollar being smaller? What year of silver dollar?? What part of the beer can top middle or bottom??

How about a dimension instead, daniel

 

Looks like I'll be placing another order with Ricambi. I lost the steering assistance, and it seems the PS reservoir is to blame. Hoping it's not a hose, as it was fine when driving, and I only realized after being parked for a couple hours that it was really tough to steer coming out of the parking spot. Lost all fluid.
How difficult is it to change the tank with the engine in the car? It's in a tight spot, I can only imagine the fun and mess that awaits. And anyone have an actual picture of the new bracket? Not sure if it's just the front piece in that diagram, or the part that goes around the back too.
To make things more interesting, look what I found when I opened the engine lid:
Unbelievable. Not sure how I missed it when working on the exhaust recently. Seems the shop couldn't get the lid on properly and half-assed it. Will have a chat with them on Monday.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Is the hose clamp stock on the reservoir cap
??

 

Nope, it's a special mod that the repair shop decided to install free of charge (or notification.)

 

Just thought I'd post an update with the new power steering tank/reservoir.
The new version has a much smaller cap that fits more accurately and is easier to open and close.
The $60 metal bracket wasn't really necessary. Now I'm not cheap, but I didn't see why I needed a new one considering they looked identical. It took me a while to find the difference between the two pieces of bent sheetmetal, and after removing the original one, realized it simply has two little tabs that fit into the grooves on the side of the original tank and the new one doesn't. They can simply be bent flat to work with the new tank.
It required about 1 1/4 quarts of power steering fluid to refill.
New tank:
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Blew my cap off on a track day. High prolonged RPM's blew it off. I used the same trick with fastener till Ricambi hooked me up with the updated replacement. For a Ferrari part I thought it was also reasonable priced. Daniel to the rescue.

 

Blew mine off at VIR yesterday, too. I'd read that the cap was an issue and before each run, I checked to ensure it was tight; didn't matter, as the last run had fluid over the top of the valley cover. Thank goodness it didn't seep down onto any really hot parts.

Just ordered the update from Foreign Cars Italia, and if you need to do this, I suggest you give them a call for an extraordinarily fair price.

 

If you'd have a 348 you wouldn't have to worry about this...

Kai

 

The old one is approx. 3 3/4 " in diameter and the new one is less than 2". Some of the old ones have a white attachment inside the lid with relief holes in them so they are a little safer.

 

Lol!!

 

Great, one more thing to worry about. ;-)

But, of course, it's much nicer to read about it here, than learn about it on the side of the road. Mine seems to be in great shape (with 1300 miles on it), but I've added it to the list of things to update. In the mean time, I've just removed all traces of power steering fluid from the threads, in an effort to minimize how much of the surface area of cap is exposed to the fluid.

 

Don't wait, replace it. Not sure just how flammable power steering fluid is, but I do know how hot the engine bay of the 355 can get. Let's see....flammable liquid + wretchedly hot engine parts = tears.

Foriegn Cars Italia offers a very handsome price to FCA members, so there's no excuse not to update the canister.

 

Hot power steering fluid is incredibly flammable.

The new reservoir is necessary in my opinion, just from a safety standpoint.

As a matter of course, I use Redline PS fluid. It is less sensitive to heat, and if things go bad, it can lubricate the PS pump until you fix whatever happened.

Jay

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. I've moved it to the top of my to do list.

Has anyone tried one of these. It's a ZF tank for BMW's. Appears to be exactly the same one, but it's $21. At that price, I'm just going to order one and try it.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=32-41-1-097-164-M103&catalog_description=Power%20Steering%20Fluid%20Reservoir%2C%20BMW%20E%33%30%20%33%20Series%2C%20All%20%28%31%39%38%34%2D%39%32%29%2C%20Each%20