Hi all,
While driving home tonight the steering on my Disco 2 (3.9 v8) suddenly became really difficult. There was also a light spray of oil that appeared on the drivers side windscreen (it's left hand drive). It feels like there is no power steering anymore.
The power steering fluid reservoir is still full and I can't see any pipes that have disconnected anywhere, however there is a 'new' loose pipe just under the brake fluid cylinder that joins a t-junction of pipes on the drivers side wing that is not connected to anything. I say 'new' because I have never noticed it before.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Dave

can you see the fluid swirling well in the reservoir with engine running?...if not imo the pump is gone... about that pipe i dunno what to say, a pic would help

Yes the fluid is swirling.
There was a flapping / tapping noise which made me think it might be the belt. I looked on the pulley at the front of the engine and it looks like there is the remains of a belt there. However, if the belt from the pump to the fluid reservoir is broken, doesn't that mean the fluid shouldn't be swirling?

that swirling means that the pump is working but not 100% that it's working well, only a pressure test would reveal that... attach a hose to the steering box bleed nipple and open it with engine running to see if you get enough pressure there or not... you should see a constant flow there, be prepared with some fluid to top up the reservoir

Fluid could be swirling due to slight vibration whilst the engine is running, or are you sure the pump is turning while the engine is running and not slipping under load.
P/S pumps are generally reliable, they may loose a bit of oomph if they have been run dry at some time but if there is P/S fluid in the reservoir and the pump is driving when under load, i.e. when you pull on the wheel to left or right and the hoses are not squirting out oil then the P/S should work.
If the belt is ratty or loose it will slip when the pump flow is on demand, i.e. trying to steer the wheels.