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Eva Lindberg Posted on Dec 14, 2017
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Power steering whining, sqreeching

Car whines, sqreeches when starting cold. Also, does it when making a hard turn. Was told by someone that looked at the motor when it happened that the powersteering pump is looking up. The timing belt and another belt has been changed. Could it be something else than having to replace the power steering pump?

  • Eva Lindberg Apr 23, 2012

    It only makes the sound when just starting the car and when turning it sharply to either direction at slow or no speed. Once the car gets going it stops.

  • Eva Lindberg Apr 23, 2012

    the car is only making the sound when just starting up and when it is a bit colder. Also only when turning really sharlply at either direction with slow or no speed. After a couple of minutes the sound is gone.

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NOEL

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  • Cars & Trucks Master 8,606 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 14, 2017
NOEL
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Hi Eva.
As you turn your steering wheel it is this fluid pressure that aids in turning the wheels of your car. ... If the pump impeller is trying to move power steering fluid and starts catching air bubbles it can cause whining noises and vibrations to occur.
Maybe you've heard it at a stop light. Maybe you've heard it as you pass a car on the freeway. Or maybe you've heard it in the parking lot at work when someone is leaving. The unmistakable whine of a power steering pump can make even the most confident mechanic wonder when that car will breakdown.
Power steering pump noise is a unique noise that your car may make and once you've heard it you always know what it is. The noise is a mix of a whirring and a whining and will always vary with the speed of your engine whether your car is driving or in park. This whining noise can be subtle or extremely loud and may be worse in colder weather, or right when you first start your car.
Power steering pumps are most often vain style centrifugal pumps that are tasked with pressurizing the power steering fluid and pushing it down to your power steering gear or rack. As you turn your steering wheel it is this fluid pressure that aids in turning the wheels of your car.
There are a few reasons why you are hearing power steering pump noise from your car. First, it may simply be due to the design of the pump. Sometimes, noisy power steering pumps can continue to work flawlessly for years after they start making noise. This may simply be due to the manufacture's design or a tight tolerance in that particular pump. In this case, you would hear the noise but not see any other adverse effect like a loss in power steering, leaking fluid or a wobbly pulley. In this case, you may be able to help reduce your power steering pump noise by choosing a different type of power steering fluid, like a synthetic fluid.
Your power steering pump may also be making noises due to air trapped in the system. If the pump impeller is trying to move power steering fluid and starts catching air bubbles it can cause whining noises and vibrations to occur. Even tiny air bubbles you cannot see that are trapping in the power steering fluid may be causing the whining you are hearing. In this case, the best thing to do is flush your power steering system to try and remove the air from the system. Having air trapped in your power steering system can be difficult to diagnose so you may need to simply try a power steering flush to see if it solves your problem.
Power Steering pump noise may also be due to a failing power steering pump. As the bearings on the impeller go bad it will start to make noise as the pump is turning. If you have a bad power steering pump you usually will also experience leaks from around the pulley, a wobbly pulley, or difficulty turning the steering wheel when you are stopped. If you have multiple of these symptoms together, it is probably time to replace your power steering pump.
Lastly, and most usually, a whining power steering pump is an indication of a low fluid level. Your power steering fluid is probably something you have rarely if ever checked, so it often comes as a surprise if the level is low. Your power steering fluid reservoir is also relatively small so even a slow leak will cause a low fluid level relatively quickly. To confirm this is your problem it is as simple as checking your power steering fluid level. Some power steering reservoirs are clear so you can see through them to check how full they are. You may have to wipe away some dirt and grime to find the "full" line, but it should be easy to check. If you have an opaque power steering fluid reservoir there should be a small dipstick under the cap that will help you measure the fluid level. If it is low, then you have a leak somewhere and topping off the fluid should quite down your power steering pump.
If you discover a power steering leak, rather than simply continuing to add fluid every time it gets low, you should fix the problem permanently so you don't have to continue to check your power steering fluid level. Replacing lines or seals can be a surprisingly difficult task due to the location of your power steering pump and steering gear or rack. The easiest way to seal your leak is to do it from the inside out!

or check this link out for more info on this matter.
Power steering whining sqreeching Google Search

4 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Oct 07, 2008

SOURCE: power steering pump and belt replacement on 1997 olds aurora

More than likely it's the A/C compressor clutch is going bad. Cut the old serpentine belt off and install a shorter belt to bypass the A/C compressor for now.

Ad

Anonymous

  • 958 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 11, 2008

SOURCE: whining power steering pump on 2001 bmw 740il

have you put a different type of power steering fluid?

in some instance, if they put a different type of fluid, the solution bubbles up and makes a whining noise when you use the car.

tnx 4 using fixya,

drcool

Anonymous

  • 33 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 11, 2009

SOURCE: Whining noise from engine

Hello
altho new you may have a whining water pump or tensioner or it may be over tensioned.

take a long screw driver & place in on the timing cover to try to here where the noise is coming from, this should help you find the proplem with the car
Regards Paul
www.limotec.co.uk

Anonymous

  • 190 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 08, 2009

SOURCE: 2006 Ford Focus making grinding/whining noise in

Check fluid level could be low.

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Power Steering Pump Noise

As you turn your steering wheel it is this fluid pressure that aids in turning the wheels of your car. ... If the pump impeller is trying to move power steering fluid and starts catching air bubbles it can cause whining noises and vibrations to occur.
Maybe you've heard it at a stop light. Maybe you've heard it as you pass a car on the freeway. Or maybe you've heard it in the parking lot at work when someone is leaving. The unmistakable whine of a power steering pump can make even the most confident mechanic wonder when that car will breakdown.
Power steering pump noise is a unique noise that your car may make and once you've heard it you always know what it is. The noise is a mix of a whirring and a whining and will always vary with the speed of your engine whether your car is driving or in park. This whining noise can be subtle or extremely loud and may be worse in colder weather, or right when you first start your car.
Power steering pumps are most often vain style centrifugal pumps that are tasked with pressurizing the power steering fluid and pushing it down to your power steering gear or rack. As you turn your steering wheel it is this fluid pressure that aids in turning the wheels of your car.
There are a few reasons why you are hearing power steering pump noise from your car. First, it may simply be due to the design of the pump. Sometimes, noisy power steering pumps can continue to work flawlessly for years after they start making noise. This may simply be due to the manufacture's design or a tight tolerance in that particular pump. In this case, you would hear the noise but not see any other adverse effect like a loss in power steering, leaking fluid or a wobbly pulley. In this case, you may be able to help reduce your power steering pump noise by choosing a different type of power steering fluid, like a synthetic fluid.
Your power steering pump may also be making noises due to air trapped in the system. If the pump impeller is trying to move power steering fluid and starts catching air bubbles it can cause whining noises and vibrations to occur. Even tiny air bubbles you cannot see that are trapping in the power steering fluid may be causing the whining you are hearing. In this case, the best thing to do is flush your power steering system to try and remove the air from the system. Having air trapped in your power steering system can be difficult to diagnose so you may need to simply try a power steering flush to see if it solves your problem.
Power Steering pump noise may also be due to a failing power steering pump. As the bearings on the impeller go bad it will start to make noise as the pump is turning. If you have a bad power steering pump you usually will also experience leaks from around the pulley, a wobbly pulley, or difficulty turning the steering wheel when you are stopped. If you have multiple of these symptoms together, it is probably time to replace your power steering pump.
Lastly, and most usually, a whining power steering pump is an indication of a low fluid level. Your power steering fluid is probably something you have rarely if ever checked, so it often comes as a surprise if the level is low. Your power steering fluid reservoir is also relatively small so even a slow leak will cause a low fluid level relatively quickly. To confirm this is your problem it is as simple as checking your power steering fluid level. Some power steering reservoirs are clear so you can see through them to check how full they are. You may have to wipe away some dirt and grime to find the "full" line, but it should be easy to check. If you have an opaque power steering fluid reservoir there should be a small dipstick under the cap that will help you measure the fluid level. If it is low, then you have a leak somewhere and topping off the fluid should quite down your power steering pump.
If you discover a power steering leak, rather than simply continuing to add fluid every time it gets low, you should fix the problem permanently so you don't have to continue to check your power steering fluid level. Replacing lines or seals can be a surprisingly difficult task due to the location of your power steering pump and steering gear or rack. The easiest way to seal your leak is to do it from the inside out!

try this link out for more power steering problems.
Power steering whining sqreeching Google Search
on Dec 14, 2017 • Cars & Trucks
0helpful
1answer

Power steering pump whine and no power steering assist upon cold start up 1999 Lexus SC

Did you check the fuelid level today? A loud whine indicates low fluid or a defective pump in most cases.
0helpful
1answer

Whining coming from front

It sounds like the power steering pump has a broken pump vane and will need to be replaced and then the system flushed to get the debris out of the system so it won't ruin the new pump.
1helpful
1answer

POWER STEERING WHINES... WE HAVE ALREADY REPLACED STEERING PUMP (2 TIMES), STEERING RACK AND RETURN LINE.AND FLUSHED SYSTEM OUT AT LEAST 3 TIMES. STILL WHINES (MORESO WHEN COLD) SEEMS BETTER AFTER WARMED...

RAISE FRONT OF CAR MAKE SURE POWER STEERING RESERVIOR IS FULL OF FLUID TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCK TO LOCK (MAX TO MAX) 50 TIMES TO BLEED THE SYSTEM IF THIS DOESN'T WORK THEN IT MEANS THE SYSTEM IS SUCKING AIR SOMEWHERE
0helpful
1answer

I have a 2007 Nissan Altima. When turning right or left it makes a whinning sound and my steering wheel vibrates a bit as I turn. It will also whine when I have it in park. I'll let it warm up a bit and...

Check the belt tension before you do anything. Most of the time, this is the issue. Second could be just a badly worn belt. Simple and lest expensive things to start with.
11helpful
2answers

Whining when i press gas

normally, the only part of your automatic transmission that will make a whining noise is the pump. it usually whines when iether the fluid is low or more commonly when the transmission oil filter is getting plugged up.

the power steering pump will also make a whining noise too.

turn the wheel all the way to the right and hold steady pressure against the stop. this puts maximum force on the power steering pump and, if the power steering pump is the one making the whine, it will change the sound of it. (usually louder).

if the trans pump is making the whine noise, it should sound different in neutral compared to drive. this test will really only work if it make the noise without the vehicle moving. if it wont do it at idle hold the rpms at 2000 or so.

if you decide the noise is coming from the transmission, and the transmission filter has not been replaced (assuming you installed a used transmission), replace the filter by removing the oil pan.



oh and also, if it is the power steering pump you should be able to make it make the whining noise while the vehicle is stationary. if it wont make noise unless its moving its not the power steering pump.
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