Steering left - noise/hard to turn

Just last week I bought a used 2000 GLS. It has 40,000 miles and is in great condition; however, I have noticed something with the steering. It doesn't happen always but sometimes when turning left I hear a noise. It almost sounds like air is escaping from somewhere. If I turn it all the way to the left, this usually happens. Also, it seems that sometimes the power steering is giving no assistance. I noticed this today when stuck in traffic. I wanted to turn around but had to wait, because I had no power steering to the left. The steering is perfectly normal to the right. I checked and added some ps fluid. Also, I've only driven the car about 200 miles so far, so I haven't had many occurences. Any ideas on what the problem could be? Any advice is appreciated.

Sounds like a failing pump. You could try and save its life by removing as much fluid from the resovoir as you can, and putting new fluid in it (use a turkey baster)...buy some synthetic power steering conditioner or something (DO NOT get anyhting with a leak stopper in it ....just a conditioner...leak stoppers of any kind are baaaad news!) suck out all the fluid in the resevoir, add fresh fluid until full...start the car and turn the wheel back and fourth several times, then do the same thing and remove all the fluid. Do this several times and eventually *most of your fluid should be changed....add conditioner on your last fill up. My 98 made some groaning sounds when turning at a stop and there was some resistance...turns out the fluid was black & burnt and wasnt doing much for lubricating the pump...once i sucked the fluid out 3 or 4 times and replaced it the pump was quiet as new and steering was easier. Its something that goes overlooked as its not in the maintenance schedual...but PS fluid should be changes as offen as transmission fluid IMO

Harmankardon,

Why do yo say that PS fluid with leak sealer is baaad? I have numerous times in the past used it when I had a leak or whiny pump and it has corrected the condition every time. In fact, that is all I use for topping up my power steering fluid if it ever gets low. I think the stuff is a god send because of the price of it versus the price of a new pump or steering gear.

your're right on the price, but the consequence to use that kind of fluid in the long run it's just not worth... me being mazur I would check for any leaks as well besides what harmankardon suggested that is an excellent suggestion by the way.
p.s. the stop leakers clogg everything in the long run

I am under the understanding that leak stoppers are not "plugger-upper's" as such, but have a seal revitalizer in them to make the seals become more supple again, therefore allowing the seals to go back to their original form to stop the leaks at pulley shaft points, high pressure O-rings and the like. I haven't ever heard of anyone having worse problems with their systems after putting stop leak in, but I am not saying that anyone has not ever had problems with it, but just personally I don't know of anyone.

I would typically say that you cannot make it worse by putting stop leak in, but you guys do have a valid argument if it is the case that stop leak plugs up leaks. To be honest, I wouldn't use it neither if it does plug cracks. This is the reason I will never use radiator stop leak in a cooling system.

well, power steering stop leak is probably not nearly as bad as radiator stop leak or engine stop leak/no smoke. I would much rather have my engine drip oil than put that super glue in it. Conditioners are usually a blend of synthetic oils that help lube the pump and soften rubber seals and such. But old burnt PS fluid is about as good as soapy water...kind of like when your tranny fluid burns, it almost always means the tranny is on its way out even if you change the fluid.