Power Steering Fluid & Chirping Noise

My power steering fluid is a chocolate brown. I did a partial flush but am hoping the power steering pump is still OK. I think I also overfilled it the last time I put some in and I have just come back from a very long road trip (over 2k miles altogether). Does this color mean the pump may be bad or did I mess it up by overfilling it?

Also, I hear a chirping noise coming from the engine compartment after starting the vehicle when cold. After driving it a few minutes and after it gets warm the chirp or squeak seems to disappear. I recently changed my serpentine drive belt but did not do the tensioner pulley. Do you think the noise would be from this or could the power steering pump be making that kind of noise?

Changing the power steering fluid is the correct thing to do.
The fluid turns dark from the heat, and can cause the pump be be noisy.
Changing the fluid usually quiets down the pump.

I would recommend using a synthetic ATF, like Mobil 1.
Of course, the windstar calls for ATF in the power steering, not power steering fluid.
A synthetic fluid will give you improved heat tolerance, and improved cold flow.

As for the chirping noise, many things can cause this.....once you have new fluid in the power steering, you can look for other causes.
Lots of possibilities and can be hard to track down.

Fluid, like antifreeze or oil or ATF on the serpentine belt is very likely to make noise.

I had the idler pulley (below the power steering pump) cause groaning sounds.

The tensioner pulley and spring have been known to cause noise.

I had chirping sounds caused by the vaccum line to the PCV valve....the 90 degree elbow on the top of the upper intake manifold, next to the throttle body developed a crack on the inside of the elbow.

Sometimes my pulley for the air conditioning compressor makes a chirping sound (like after going through a puddle, and getting wet).

I would change the fluid completely. It's been well documented in other posts. It is not that difficult. I had a whining noise and changed the fluid. The steering is so smooth now and no noise.

Thanks for the replies.

I actually had drained the power steering pump reservoir a few times (using a hose to siphon out the fluid), but used standard clear power steering fluid and not ATF to refill it. I hope I did not damage the pump as I did drive it many miles with the wrong fluid in it.

The chirp doesn't sound like a belt chirp to me but a bearing type of noise. I'll have to keep investigating it. It seems to do it the most from a cold start, so I think I'll need to just pop the hood and start it cold and see if I can tell where it is coming from.

Had the same difficult to find "chirp when cold" on my 98-3.8L. Turned out to be the Crankshaft Position/Crank Angle Sensor. Here's where it's located: if you're looking down at the serpentine belt, you'll see a coolant pipe that goes into the water-pump. The sensor/assy is located right behind it. It has a gear-driven shaft just like a distributor shaft.

Do you're homework if you decide to replace it yourself. You need to carefully mark the outside of the housing (WRT the engine) and the internal rotating part (WRT the assembly housing). As long as you mark everything, there is no need for the tool. Also, I had to lift the rear fuel rail to get enough clearance to remove the sensor. This was unexpected, but only adds about 30 min to the job. It looks/sounds complicated, but it's not.

A quick test to see if this is caused by something with the belt (or any pulley on it),
Verify that you have the diagram that shows the serpentine belt routing BEFORE removing it.
Remove the serpentine belt, start the motor.......
If no noise, then it is something on the belt drive.....
If you still have the sound, then it is NOT something on the belt drive...

DO NOT RUN THE MOTOR FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE as you have no coolant circulation.....and the motor will overheat.
This is just a QUICK check to verify if the sound is something that the serpentine belt drives.

As far as the power steering fluid, I would change it and use ATF. Most likely you are still OK....but it is best to have the correct fluid in there.