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Old 04-20-2005, 10:23 PM
wiswind wiswind is offline
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Re: Problems Still, Power Steering

I had replaced both the power steering pump and the alternator about Christmas time......suddenly at Easter, I got a growling noise that sounded like the power steering.
It was dependant upon the engine speed....and only made the noise at idle or faster.....
In other words.....
I could not find the noise by removing the serpentine belt and turning things by hand.
I did remove the serpentine belt....and start the car....and ran it for a very short time (like less than a minute).....and the noise was not present.
I changed the power steering pump....flushing the fluid...with new fluid....and installed a "magnefine" inline filter in the return line...and still had the same sound......
It turned out that the alternator was making the sound. So I exchanged the alternator....and it solved my problem.

Spitting fluid out the cap.....make sure that you do not overfill.....
And....if it is foaming.....that will also cause the fluid level to go up....as air is getting into the system.
Make sure that the hoses have their clamps on thightly. Don't overtighten the one on the reservoir.....as it is plastic....or fiberglass.....and will break.

Another thing.....Did you buy a pump that included the reservoir? They come with or without the reservoir....... I bought one with the resevor.....but if the reservoir is not correctly seated......perhaps that is a source of air?

Also, if you have gotten power steering fluid onto the serpentine belt.....you will want to replace it....once you get the problem resolved.
I thought that I had mine all cleaned up.....but the belt shredded one day (and it was only about a year old).....fortunately.....I was just turning into Autozone's parking lot when it happened. I was not planning on buying a serpentine belt that day.....but....plans do change.

When I put the 2nd pump in.....I removed the serpentine belt.....changed the pump.....wiped things up.....and re-installed the serpentine belt.
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