Power Steering Leak

[ExplSport2000]

My 2000 Explorer Sport is leaking Power Steering Fluid. I crawled under it today and it looks like it has a Power Steering cooler, is this accurate? I've never really heard of a lot of cars having them. Just wanted to find out if i was accurate and how much this part might cost.

 

[ExplSport2000]

Can anyone help? It is leaking and i ordered a new part, am i gonna have to prime the pump?

 

[IZwack]

Thats correct, there is a small power steering cooler mounted on the cross member that houses the power steering rack.

The pump does not need to be primed as it is gravity fed by the reservoir just a few inches above the pump. However, the system will need to be bled and all you do is jack the vehicle up so that both front wheels are up in the air, and then start the truck and turn the steering wheels to full lock on both sides a few times -- while all the while having someone else watching over the reservoir and refilling it to make sure it does not go empty (which would introduce air into the system again).