rack and pinion issues

[deadshift]

Okay so here in the last year or so i have noticed a wine. I figured that either my P/S pump is going out or the rack and pinion is making the noise. I know that the rack and pinion needs to be changed cause there is a small leak coming from the top of it where the linkage is. but my question is on the lid to the power steering fluid there should be a dip stick to check it with right? well when i looked it appeared as if it had been sheared off. I'm new to this forum so any help would be appreciated.

[danstoy]

I just looked at mine and it's plastic...go figure. anyway the full mark is about 1 inch down from the cap, if the pump is winning it's because the fluid is low and it's sucking air, if the fluid is full and it's making noise the pump is bad, possably from the fluid being to low for to long so at some point you'll have to fix the fluid leak also.

[deadshift]

I appreciate it man. Thanks now i know how full it needs to be. add some to it hopefully stops the whining thanks again.                       P.S (fixed whining)