Power Steering Pump Problem - 01 GC

[drstroud]

I have a problem with my 2001 GC Sport in cold weather. For the last two winters, I have been getting a grinding or bad bearing sound from the power steering pump. It must be the pump since it gets worse if I turn the steering wheel. After the van warms up, the sound goes away. I put a new pump on yesterday and the sound is still there. This only happens in cold weather. The pump was bled as the book said - turn wheel from side to side and add fluid as necessary - let idle for several minutes with the steering straight...

I suppose the new pump could be bad too, but no likely. My other thought was the water pump, but this does not start until the termostat opens up, right?

Any ideas?

[yogi_123rd]

You may want to inspect the serpantine belt tensioner arm for a bad or binding bearing on the pulley. It can also be coming from the water pump too as it turns whenever the belt moves (irreguardless of the thermostat opening).

[sluvs2quilt]

hello, did you ever find a solution to the noise? My 2003 Grand caravan has started doing the exact same thing. My mechanic can't find a thing wrong. It makes that whining sound from the steering area, can only hear it inside the car. Only cold weather. Sounds like the steering is extended all the way and its not.
P.S. treat me nice, I probably would have gone to the store to find turbo fluid too!

[drstroud]

Originally Posted by sluvs2quilt

hello, did you ever find a solution to the noise? My 2003 Grand caravan has started doing the exact same thing. My mechanic can't find a thing wrong. It makes that whining sound from the steering area, can only hear it inside the car. Only cold weather. Sounds like the steering is extended all the way and its not.
P.S. treat me nice, I probably would have gone to the store to find turbo fluid too!

The sound mine was making could be heard outside the car and probably the next block, too. The promlem, fixed this last week, turned out to be the ps fluid resevoir. There are filters inside that were all clogged up. Replaced the resevoir and no more whining. Also, the Valvoline fluid I put in when I replaced the pump is too thick, even though is says Chrysler approved on the back - according to the Dodge dealer. I wish I would have checked the technical service bulletins because this problem is identified in one.

[sluvs2quilt]

Where can I find the TSB your referring to? I would like to bring it to my mechanic. I'm also wondering if the fluid has to be exactly what they recommend or if that would cause a problem. It seems to me this started happening after I had a service done. I don't know if my guy used exactly what is recommended in the manual. Is the fluid thickening up in colder weather and therefore not as 'liquid' as it should be? Did you end up using the genuine Mopar tranny fluid? thanks for all your help.

[drstroud]

Originally Posted by sluvs2quilt

Where can I find the TSB your referring to? I would like to bring it to my mechanic. I'm also wondering if the fluid has to be exactly what they recommend or if that would cause a problem. It seems to me this started happening after I had a service done. I don't know if my guy used exactly what is recommended in the manual. Is the fluid thickening up in colder weather and therefore not as 'liquid' as it should be? Did you end up using the genuine Mopar tranny fluid? thanks for all your help.

I just checked www.nhtsa.gov and went into the Office of Defects Investigation. There was section that said all tsb's may not be listed, and lo and behold, there was not listed for my 2001 GC. Now the Dodge dealer said one existed, and maybe it did. The bottom line was the resevoir was bad and replacing it fixed my problem. As far as fluid replacement, after what I went through, I'd only buy Mopar fluid from the dealer. This is something that you should not have to buy on a regular basis so the higher cost is not a problem. The colder weather had to be a problem since there was not problem over the summer or after the engine was running for a few minutes.

[mnwalleye]

I had been getting a grumbling noise from the power steering when starting in cold weather on my 98. Just had the sepentine belt and tensioner replaced as it was due for it anyways. Don't have the noise anymore, it was similair to what you described, it would really growl when cold especially when turning the wheel. After 5 mins or warming up, noise went away.

good luck,

MNWalleye

[B33p3r]

I read a tsb on alldata.com that recommended a new fluid but I didn't see anything about replacing the reservoir? I have the same problem. Loud terrible whine on a cold start and noisy power steering all the time. Was the reservoir hard to change?