power steering issues

i live in northern new york and yesterday morning when i went to start the car to warm it up it was 10 below. the car started and i let it run for about 20 minutes. when i got in it was still cold so i sat for a bit and put it in reverse. i turned the steering wheel and there was an awfully loud whining noise. it makes the same noise but quieter when i turn the wheel all the way to one direction left or right. i knew right away that it had to be power steering. i also noticed that alignment is off. sometimes i am fighting to keep wheel to the left and sometimes to the right then other times it is centered perfectly. please help if you can. thanks.

i forgot it's a 99 Grand AM GT.

This actually sounds like a problem with the rack and pinion not necessarily the pump. The alignment issue would not cause you to hold the wheel one way and then the other to keep the steering straight. I would get this looked at as soon as possible since you may actually experience steering failure.

Hi my 99 Grand AM GT just started making a whining noise so I checked the power steering fluid and it was very low so i added fluid but it still makes the noise I think that there is a little leak b/c I see it on the concrete. I was wondering if anyone knows why the fluid in the power steering reservoir would look foamy I guess that it means there is air in the system and I need to blead the lines. I dont see why my pump would be bad b/c I still have power steering. If anyone could give me any insight on this it would be nice thanks.

Welcome to AF tryentolearn.

When it is cold your power steering will whine and moan due to moisture in the PS lines, and the super cold PS fluid gets thicker, so the pump whines trying to pump.

Both of my GA do this when they set outside over night.
The other day I couldnt even steer at all for 10-15 min till it warmed up.

The foaming was because it was low on fluid.
Best thing is to fill it cold ,
then let it warm up,
shut of for 2-3mins then check level again.

This can take some time to clear the fluid if it was realy low & foamy.

Well the foaming came back after i filled it to the rite level and I notice a little leak on the concrete so i put it up on the ramps and crawled under and I could see where it was running along the frame behind the engine I think thats where the rack is rite anyways I think I have a small leak so I put power steering fluid in that had stop leak in it hopefully that will stop the leak. What I was wondering is there a way to blead the system I read past posts where they talked of bleading the lines but I am not sure where to look to do this and how to do this also that noise on my pump wont go away I guess I will just live with it till winter is over then take it apart.

that noise is a definite indication of rack and pinion needs replacing. you can do this yourself easily as it is not a difficult task but rather time consuming. do not buy a used one but a factory rebuilt with a warranty. make sure you flush the system completely (takes up to 1 dozen litres of power steering fluid) and replace filter into lines(usually supplied with rebuilt rack). use recommended fluid for application and on your way. where i live and you want your car safied you wont get one with your car's symptoms. hope this helps. ps taking shortcuts on this issue will only cost you more money and create a safety issue.

Yeah I think your rite on the rack i climed under there again and felt a lot of fluid then I seen some of the hoses there were wet so the rack do you know how much that costs and is it somethen you can get from Autozone or somethen or did you order yours online. From what I hear its not that hard it just takes time is this a do able with ramps or do you need a lift. I am thinken about taking it to someone with a lift b/c of the weather is so cold now and I only have ramps to work off of. Thanks for all of your help.

I wouldnt replace the rack just yet :nono:

If anything repalce the lines and filter and fluid.
This has helped 100's of GMs I have worked on.

To bleed your powersteering you will need to jack the frint wheels off the ground.
- First fill the resivoir, and allow it to set for 2-3 minutes.
- start the car and let it run for 2-3 seconds only.
- check and refill if necessary as the above procedure until the level is constant.
- Raise the front wheels of the vehicle off the ground.
- Start the engine and increase engien speed to about 1500rpms, now turn the steering wheel slowly from right stop to left stop.
- with engine running lower the vehicle and turn the steering wheel right-to-left as before without holding at the stops.
- Recheck the fluid level, if its foamy allow it to set for several minutes with the engine off, then repeat the above procedures.
- If its still foamy after several attempts thier could be something wrong with the PS system.
- Low fluid level is the #1 cause of pump failures.

If you replace the PS hoses it will take up to 2hrs to fully releave the system of foamy fluid.
Also switching to sythetic PS fluid will help you system function better and last longer.

Hope that helsp!

i agree don't change rack just now until you are for sure it is the rack. when you know you got all the air out of it by turning it right to left or left to right that will take the air out of it. if it's leaking could just be the 1 of the lines.
good luck....

thank you for the reply to my response. just because it makes noise, one does not have to replace right away. like the others say, i again change it when it gets warmer. yes autozone should sell them and you dont need a hoist just stands to support the front of car safely while wheels are removed to gain access to rack. i would just fix leaks for now and look for an additive which you can add to the rack lubrication and see if that will deminish the noise. might get you another year especially if you drain and flush power steering fluid. good luck and dont get excited over this issue for now it is not the end of the world.

Well my problem never came back so I guess it was just because it was really cold out. But I still have a wierd alignment problem. Most of the time I am fighting to keep the wheel to the right because if I let go it will drift into the left lane. Then sometimes I will let go of the wheel and the car will go to the right. Then out of nowhere I let go of the wheel and it's perfectly centered. This is stumping me and I dont know if I should go and get an alignment done.

if pump is bad it can cause your problem take it have it aligned and if still does it you'll know it's the pump causing this.

or could be your rack too...good luck..

mjtr21, sounds like you alignment is off.

On the pulling , I'd change your PS fluid this should clear that up too.