Turning and whining

[mopaco]

My 05 is whining when turning left about 50% of the time. Of course when i took it to the dealership i couldn't reproduce it. I imaging it to be the belt slipping? What are the common causes? It seems to do it more when i am turning sharp at about about 25 miles an hour or so.

One guy told me that an old farmers trick is to rub soap on the belt so it won't whine. Anyone ever heard of that?

Am I looking the the right general direction here?

[jveik]

um hows about a new belt and use a huge-ass screw driver and put as much torque on that mother as you possibly can, then quick tighten it up at the power steering pump and it should have less than i dunno maybe half inch of play when you push down on the belt. at least thats for older models like my 73. you might have some new fangled belt tensioner thingy and a one - belt system. i have a separate one driving the alternator, water pump, and fan clutch, then a second one driving just the power steering pump. another thing is that maybe you are low on fluid or let it get too low and your s.o.l. with the pump. i know a guy that let the fluid get too low and it ruined some bearing inside the pump so its all loud and crud now.

[J-Ri]

It sounds like it is a hydraulic issue. If it were the belt, it would do it left and right. Check the fluid level before you drive it again. If it's low, add enough power steering fluid to bring it to the full line. Let it roll (just let it idle in drive) while you turn the steering wheel as far as you can in both directions. Turn it as far as you can both ways about 5 times, then check it again. If the level dropped, bring it back to full, and do the turning thing again. Keep repeating until it stays at full. Don't turn the wheels while it's sitting still, or you'll wear flat spots on your tires.

[bowtieguy]

mine makes a slight whining noice too,but it is only once in a great while and when i am turning my wheel fast for whatever reason. i guess the pump cant keep up with the demand when turning wheel that fast?

[gremlin96]

i would try the belt first.

I have a 04 4x4 it done it last summer, and in the winter the auto tenser gave out. the bad news is its doing it agen.

[miltystu]

If its the belt it will screach. if you get a whining noise it is a pump issue. I agree with checking fluid as described earlier. If that doesn't help bring it back to the dealer and raise hell.

[chuck16]

I have a 99' 1500 and the Power Steering pump was replaced by the previous owner as apparently it exploded and died on him. The new one seems to be a bit whiny but the fluid level seems to be ok....

Thank god it's not as whiny as all Ford Power Steering Pumps..

[TXAGG05]

'02 Z71
On occasion mine will screach like it's the belt,....but only on left turns and only every once in a while, like when I turn left at just the right speed.

Jeb