Rack and Pinion Problem?

[almindigo]

Hi All,

Not car savvy at all...

Just purchased 01 Olds Intrigue GX from dealer. Currently has 68,500 miles. (90 day, 3,000 mi limited warranty)

When I start the car, put it into gear, and then drive, I get a low grinding noise that sounds like it's coming from the steering column, however.....

It only does this ONCE upon going, and I can't replicate the noise until the next time I go to start the car, put in gear, and drive. I can't figure out the corrolation of the steering and gear connection.

Called my mechanic and he's going to look at it sometime this week. He thought possibly something with the rack and pinion set up. Thought I'd get any suggestions

[gmtech1]

If the noise happens just after you start moving forward on first start up, you're hearing the ABS self test. This will happen every time the vehicle is started and driven. THIS IS NORMAL.

[almindigo]

Ok, thanks for the response,
I"ve probably just never owned a car new enough to have something like this happen! :-)

[LittleHoov]

I do agree it sounds a lot like the ABS self-test.

What you could do is find a nice abandoned section of road, or a parking lot or something, and get up to a decent speed and hit the brakes hard enough for the ABS to engage. It sounds the same as the self-test except it lasts longer. Besides that its a handy thing to know what your ABS sounds like that way you know whats happening if your car starts "acting funny" one day when you hit the brakes hard, or on ice/snow, etc.

[almindigo]

ok will give that a shot, thanks for the post!