Power Steering Pump Problem

[shifty1st]

I have a 2002 Venture. I have a whining noise when the van is idling and also moving. The whining has been narrowed down to the power steering pump. However, the mechanic at the garage I go to has tried three power steering pumps and still can't stop the whining. Help! Besides the noise driving me nuts, I have to go from Florida to New York in two weeks and would hate to break down in some remote area.

[mhall02]

How about the belt tensioner? Are the pulley's lined up, is the belt slipping off to one side or the other? Is the harmonic balancer good? These are the two things (belt wise) that have gone bad on my Montana van after 172,000 miles and a whine was associated with each. More so with the belt tensioner pulley, belt would move half off the harmoic balancer when it went south.

[shifty1st]

After checking the power steering pump and tensioner pulleys, it turned out to be the alternator. After replacing the alternator, the whining stopped, along with my whining, and everything is fine.

[roadrunner2]

Originally Posted by shifty1st

After checking the power steering pump and tensioner pulleys, it turned out to be the alternator. After replacing the alternator, the whining stopped, along with my whining, and everything is fine.

Nice to see you didn't lose your sense of humor. Thanks for posting back with the end result.

[534BC]

I'll bet the guy who r&r the alt whined.