Steering problem - rack changed still noisy

Hi guys,

I need some information here as I don't know if the service guys is realy honest with me...
2000 GrandAM SE 3.4V6 - 64000km

Last week I just realise I have a steering problem. When turning the wheel left/right I was hearing a pretty loud noise... then I noticed the steering fluid leak.

I had the car towed to the service and they have the rack and pinion and the pressure line changed ... they were both leaking - how come both were leaking in the same time???? I don't know... he showed them to me after and he was right (if he showed me my parts!!!)

Anyways I got the car last night and I still have a noise in the pump.
the guy told me is just the pump sucking the fluid and that the noise will go in time ...

I don't realy like this... is this normal??
Also when I turn the wheel to max left/right the noise is louder (in the pump area) and .. - this is what's disturbing me - .... the RPMs are going up and down ... like there is and effort in the engine.

Is the pump gone too? or I have to give it few rides before it gets back to normal???


Thanks,
Val

PS: can one install a Rack Without Power Assist on a car that was designed to work with Rack With Power Assit? - I was wondering if he installed the wrong Rack!!! - because it was cheeper!

Had anybody experienced similar problem/noise?

After a day the noise is less louder but is still there... and I can hear the winning when turning the wheel.

Any piece of info about this is truly appreciated...

V

it depends on the noise, the power steering pump is supposed to whine some when you turn the wheel at a stand still or slow speed, it means the pump is working to turn the wheels. Also the pump is driven by the engine so the engine has to give effort to turn the wheels because the wheels are hardest to turn when the car isn't moving. They should have bleed the air out of the system so there really should be no "break in" period. Depending on how long and how low the fluid has gotten anything more than a whine could mean the pump was damaged.

Thanks catback23...

Now I have a better idea about the steering system. I kind of had an idea about how things are working but I wanted to have a qualified opinion. :)

I can say I am a bit less worried but not completely relaxed...

As I mentioned the noise is not that loud anymore but is is noticeable... I can compare with what I was used to, before the problem... and now
I can notice the MMMmmmMMM noise even when not moving the wheel.
Before I could hear only the engine... not I can hear an aditional and distinct noise.

the noise is not continous (as you notice in my spelling :))) )
but I can hear it only when standing or moving at low speed ... so is not that loud. Am I being picky?

Maybe it worth to mention that since I have first noticed the problem (very loud noise at each wheel movement) I had to drive about 2-3 km to get home. The service guy told me it should be OK...

(smart idea not to drive when something is wrong :) )

Is it a good idea to think about selling it? ... everybody is telling me so...

Anybody?

I'd suggest drive it somemore until you get several full left and full right turns before worrying whether the pump is bad or not. Driving with any of the power steering stuff broken or not working isn't dangerous, just requires more steering effort at slower speeds.

A friend of mine from Vancouver confirmed what you're saying....
so I am goning to wait...

What do you thing about the fact that the service changed the
rack and pinion and the pressure line both with leaks I was told.

I find this hard to believe.. and he agreed. He showed me the rack and pinion and it was oily at both ends where the two covers are.

My friend told me that it could have been only the pressure line and the leak had reach both ends of the rack...

... which means I paid to replace a good part... The most expensive on my bill :(

thx,
Val