1998 Cutlass (a Malibu twin) Power Steering Noise

Hi,
I own a 1998 Cutlass (a twin of the Malibu). I am having a continuing problem with noise from my power steering. It seems to me that the GM service center I am working with may be stumped. Just to recap, I had a power steering pump leak and a steering rack leak back in the late spring of 2003. The GM dealer service center I have traditionally used to service my car has now replaced the power steering pump 4 times and also replaced the steering rack 4 times. I still have a loud grinding noise when turning the steering both to the left and to the right. The strange thing about this noise is that it only occurs when the car is cold. After driving for about 30 minutes, the noise seems to go away, but comes back again after the car has been parked for a couple of hours. Does anybody have any ideas about what I should do next? I am thinking about trying to contact engineering at GM (if possible). This dealership has successfully fixed all other problems with my car. It is hard to beleive that they are not competent enough to fix a steering problem.

Thanks,
:banghead: Tim

Are you sure the it is the power steering that is making the noise? It seems to me that if the problem persists after replacing the pump and rack 4 times you might ask them to look elsewhere. It could be a belt alignment problem with the belt, or maybe even the tensioner that is noisey. If the problem occurs only when you turn the wheel look at other suspension parts. Could be a strut, lower ball joint or even a CV joint. Look at the entire system around the rack etc.Good luck.

I have noticed that my car has a small power steering fluid leak that they (the dealer) can not seem to find and fix.

Tim

Hi,
I just wanted to update the community and everyone know that the problem is now solved! There was a small crack in the power steering fluid resevoir. This crack allowed air into the power steering system causing it to make noise. Now with the resevoir replaced, the car runs like a champ!!

Thanks,
Tim

My wife's '98 Malibu just started making a growling noise that goes away after it warms up, just as you described. I did notice that it was low on fluid. I added some but didn't notice a leak. I will check closer for a leak in the reservoir. Thanks for the tip.

Hi,
I own a 1998 Cutlass (a twin of the Malibu). I am having a continuing problem with noise from my power steering. It seems to me that the GM service center I am working with may be stumped. Just to recap, I had a power steering pump leak and a steering rack leak back in the late spring of 2003. The GM dealer service center I have traditionally used to service my car has now replaced the power steering pump 4 times and also replaced the steering rack 4 times. I still have a loud grinding noise when turning the steering both to the left and to the right. The strange thing about this noise is that it only occurs when the car is cold. After driving for about 30 minutes, the noise seems to go away, but comes back again after the car has been parked for a couple of hours. Does anybody have any ideas about what I should do next? I am thinking about trying to contact engineering at GM (if possible). This dealership has successfully fixed all other problems with my car. It is hard to beleive that they are not competent enough to fix a steering problem.

Thanks,
:banghead: Tim

a decade ago a similar complaint surfaced in J, N and A cars (which use virtually the same rack) and the fix was to flush and fill with synthetic...

that aside, pop off the belt and make sure the idler pulley near the pump is not about to fail

Hi Timd,
One more important point: the resevoir only leaked when cold! When cold, the plastic contracted causing the resevoir to leak. When warm, the plastic would expand causing the leak to dissapear.

Good luck,
Tim