Whenever I am driving and turn the wheel, it makes a wierd noise, like its straining. This has been happening for about 2 days now. The power steering fluid seems to be normal, what is the problem?

 

maybe weak belt tension

 

That happens to me when I do extreme sharp turns. It makes like a squeeling noise.

 

It depends on what type of screeching you have. If the belt is screeching, it is loose. If it is coming from the pump, you are not getting the proper amount of fluid in to the system. Even if the reservoir is properly filled, it can have a supply problem. The pump has a screen in it to prevent foreign matter from getting in to the vanes of the pump. The screen may be plugged.

:seeya

 

Are you looking in the reservoir while the engine is running? Is the fluid whitish colored? If so, you're getting cavitation - air is getting sucked in, probably because of poor o-ring seals in the connections from the lines.

Looking at it while engine is stopped won't tell you anything, other than if the fluid is dirty and needs changing.

 

So what should I do, check the fluid while it is running.

Is it ok to drive the car in this condition. I haven't noiced any negative effects, but the noise is a bit annoying. I don't want to drive it around, however, if something is on the verge of breaking.

marthpodi

 

Can you tell if the noise is coming from the PS pump or somewhere else? Is it more of a grinding noise or a squealing noise?

 

its more of a squealing noise

 

TTT

Is it ok to drive? What should I check?

 

Sounds like time for a new belt......

 

what belt?
can I check it to see if its worn out, etc?
Is it safe to drive?

 

The drive or Sepentine belt. It is the black rubber thingy that goes from pulley to pulley. It isn't expensive and easy to change.
:D

 

You may want to simply change the fluid first and see if that will fix the problem. Jack up the frontend, loosen the lowest hose and drain into pan while someone slowly turns the steering from stop to stop repeatedly to pump out all the fluid. Do not run the engine during this operation. Reconnect the hose and fill with new fluid, turn the wheel back and forth again while topping off the reservoir. Some have found this to stop the 'wailing'.

 

Thanks. I can't seem to get the top off of the reservoir....this is sick....It's just a screw off top and I can't get the damn thing off...

 

The cap on the power steering fluid reservoir is a reverse thread - turn it clockwise to loosen (stupid, agreed. But the boys at GM must have had a reason). There should be an arrow on the cap indicating the direction to turn it to remove.

My '89 makes a similar noise when steering too - a low-level groaning noise. It only does it on sharp, low speed turns (like right hand turns around corners). It doesn't seem to do it on highway ramps or other high-speed sweeping turns. And it does it when cold or hot. It think it's the condition of the fluid. When you get the cap off, smell the fluid on the level indicator. Power steering fluid shouldn't have a smell to it, and it should be a clear amber color (like new motor oil). If the fluid smells like it's been burnt and/or it's really dark, then it's time for a change.

I'd personally take it to a GM dealer for this. All the dealers have a power-flush device that will completely remove all the old fluid, and replace it with clean new stuff - wthout the hassle of having to bleed the system. Even if you where to drain the fluid yourself, you probably won't get what's in the steering fluid cooler (you can see the cooler under the car, just in front of the steering rack) so you'll be back next year doing the same job. Besides, this service at the dealer is relatively cheap too - I think it's like $40 or $50. Check first though.

Good luck with the car.

 

I'm not that stupid - I saw the arrow on the cap, and turned it the right way. I STILL can't get it off though. :mad

 

:lol:
Sounds like your cap may be stripped. Did you try pulling up while unscrewing it? Is the noise there if you dont turn the wheel? Does it get louder or go away when you give it some gas? If you have a bar of soap, you can rub the soap on the belt as the engine is running to temp get rid of belt noise to see if it is the belt or if it is something else.

I think problem comes in waves for us. Just yesterday while I was driving home from the lake, my PS started making some GOD awful grinding noises. I figured the PS fluid was low. Little did I know it was low because the dill-hole who replaced the rack for the previous owner let the aluminum hose rest of the sway bar. All the rubbing from the sway bar finally rubbed a hole in the aluminum hose and it leaked out all the fluid. I had to make-shift fix it using some "MAGNUM STEEL" (JB WELD type of stuff) to stop the leak to limp it home for repair. Thank goodness I didnt break anything. The PS pump is still good and my rack was not damaged from all this.

 

Sorry, never ment to imply that you were stupid. It's just that I've seen alot of people get tripped up by the reverse thread on the cap.

Does the cap itself turn, or is it stuck? If it's stuck, then you could make a quick trip to the Home Depot and get one of those band-type wrench devices. You sometimes see people use these for removing the lids off of jars. Sears sells a similar device I believe.

However, if the cap does turn without coming off, then VetteNoob is probably right and it may very well be stripped. Try the suggestion of pulling up on the cap while turning to see if it catches a thread. If that doesn't do it, then you'll have to drain all the fluid out of the reservor by removing the lowest hose, then replace the reservoir and cap with new. The cap has a breather hole, so the fluid should drain out with the cap in place (although it will probably drain REALLY slowly). But seeing as this route will see you replacing both the cap and reservoir, you could drill a hole in the cap to help the fluid drain quicker.

Although I find it hard to believe that the threads have been stripped! They are really pretty course and integrated as part of the reservoir (not cut afterwards) - quite difficult to strip. Try turing the cap counter clockwise (opposite the direction of the arrow). I did this once on my car - by mistake - and the cap came off.

Good luck. And again, I apologize for the missunderstanding.


[Modified by TheCorvetteKid, 1:27 AM 6/3/2002]

 

Don't worry about it, I am stupid - just not THAT stupid. :D Anyway, it may be stripped, but I have not tried pulling up on it - will try that now. There is no noise when moving forward and the wheel is not turned at all, when I give it gas, I can't tell what happens, cause I can't hear it anymore (Flowmasters). I think it stays the same.

Soap on belt - Which belt? The long one that goes thru everything (serpentine?)

I think the soap on the belt will fix it because I was mucking around with coolant the other day and prolly spilled some on the belt.

Thanks for all the help,
marthpodi

 

Yeah, soap on the serp belt. If some coolant made the nosie go away after you got some on the belt, I think it is only your belt. AutoZone or any parts store will have one for like $25. The soap is just a cheap trick to apply some 'belt dressing' to see if the belt is causing the noise. Good Luck.