[hk968]

I just revived my car after 4 month of winterizing. Turned the key – started right up without any hesitation. So far so good. But when I drove out of the garage, I notice a whining noise when turning the steering and a slight vibration of the steering wheel itself.

This only happens when I turn the wheel to either side and at low RPM. The noise is also slightly different for a leftturn vs. a right turn. At high RPM it is completely gone and the car drives perfectly fine. Also, once the car has warmed up, it is much better, and the problem is almost gone.



Do you guys have any thoughts on this? Is this the pump itself, or do I just have to change the fluids? Also, should I take it to the shop right away, or can I drive and see what happens until my scheduled maintenance that I have in one month anyway?

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[tamathumper]

Low power steering fluid. Top it up.

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[Lear35A]

In an effort to improve my paultry post count I will echo tamathumper's analysis. It sounds classic low ps fluid level to me.

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[Cloud9...68]

Yes, definitely check the power steering level first, and top up if necessary. If this doesn't take care of the problem, I'd next do a drain & refill of the power steering fluid (which is actually automatic transmission fluid - Dexron III is fine). Just suck as much of it out of the reservoir as you can, using a turkey baster or a hand siphon, top it up, start the engine, turn the wheel to both extremes a few times, and then repeat the process a few times. I did this a few years ago to mine, and it completely cured my noisy power steering pump (I seldom get that lucky!) Good luck.

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[968rz]

could also be air somehow entered the system, PS pumps are self bleeding so running the engine and turning lock to lock will bleed it.



and check the level <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[hk968]

Thanks guys! I will check the level first thing tomorrow morning. Can I use any PS fluid to top off or do those have to be compatible somehow?

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[tamathumper]

As Cloud mentioned above, it's actually automatic transmission fluid, and Dexron III is what you'll find in just about any auto parts store.

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[hk968]

Yep, that was it. I checked the level, and it was low. I filled up the reservoir to the correct level, the noise went away, and everything works fine now. Thanks for your help, guys!



On the other hand, I now know where the 2-3 drops of oil came from every night that I saw on the garage floor. I have already added checking all the PS hoses to my list when I take the car to the shop in April .... I hope it is just that, and not the rack itself (the rack was replaced about 8 years ago by the <acronym title='previous owner'>PO</acronym>)

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[tamathumper]

There are two little hoses that connect on the bottom of the reservoir. Each probably has a simple hose clamp on it, and they are prone to loosening and leaking. Mine is doing it right now.



If you're comfortable taking a screwdriver and tightening those clamps, you might save yourself a shop visit, and you'll certainly save your sway bar bushing which is right below there and which swells and disintegrates when it gets soaked with power steering fluid.



Oh, and check your fluid level again in a few days. It might get a little lower as it gets pulled back into the system.

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[hk968]

Just to close this out - you were right: one of the hoses was a little bit loose, the shop I had the car to for oil change and other stuff just tightened them up. Not a single drop anymore ever since ...





Thanks a lot for all the good advice that I am getteng here on this board!



[quote name='tamathumper' timestamp='1363217367' post='139956']

There are two little hoses that connect on the bottom of the reservoir. Each probably has a simple hose clamp on it, and they are prone to loosening and leaking. Mine is doing it right now.



If you're comfortable taking a screwdriver and tightening those clamps, you might save yourself a shop visit, and you'll certainly save your sway bar bushing which is right below there and which swells and disintegrates when it gets soaked with power steering fluid.



Oh, and check your fluid level again in a few days. It might get a little lower as it gets pulled back into the system.

[/quote]

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[Lear35A]

It's alway nice to get closure. It's especially nice when the fix is cheap and easy.

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[ds968]

All of a sudden while pulling into a parking space today ( and lucky it was one of those one in a million chances when my stereo was off and the AC was not blasting at the max level ) I heard a fairly pronounced whirring-swishing sound and also felt a slight vibration , without the steering wheel being turned all the way to the max, it was turned just about half way over. So I pulled back, turning it again and the same noise was there . Not knowing what might be wrong I thought I'd check the PS fluid reservoir first and see if I had a leak which could have drained it . Looked in, the reservoir seems to be at least 3/4 full . Tne dip stick had the fluid level just half way between the end of the stick and the first marking line so I thought - crap, since th eh reservoir is no way near empty , it's gotta be something else mechanical and it's going to be expensive ! But I thought, what the heck let me just add some fluid and see if it makes any difference . I did that, filled it to the second dipstick line and...all the noises, vibrations, etc simply vanished ! Smooth turning, silent running and all's right with the world again. So not sure why such a small amount of incremental fluid at the top of the reservoir, when there is a more than sufficient base in there makes a difference . Gravity ? Vacuum ? What ?!

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[Rap]

When was the last time you filled it? Are you sure you don't have a leak. This container is notorious for cracking. I've replaced two on the track car. It is sometimes difficult to determine if it is the container that leaks.

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[ds968]

I do not recall if I ever filled that container, it may be a couple of years since I bought the car and 30k miles later.. I'll check the container and its hose as far as I can see or reach under it for any signs of leaks today , but if I do have a leak it must be very small because there are no spots on the ground under the car so could be just accumulating in the plastic " tray " .

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[94SilverCab]

That hose over the PS steering rack is notorious, I have Max check it every time he sees the car. I have a piece of cardboard on the garage floor so I know when it starts leaking...AGAIN.

 

Whenever I take the car out, I try to make sure that I turn wheel lock to wheel lock to make sure I use the whole range of motion.

 

Jay

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[williamoss]

You guys in Pa are lucky to have Max. I assume Max is the same of the previous RS Barn shop. As Max knows all there is to know of the 968. Too bad he is not living in Portland OR.

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[ds968]

A California relocation package for Max has already been contemplated , unfortunately he'd have to live inside the shop , we can't seem to raise the $ 4 million necessary for a studio apartment over the garage... 

That hose over the PS steering rack is notorious, I have Max check it every time he sees the car. I have a piece of cardboard on the garage floor so I know when it starts leaking...AGAIN.

 

Whenever I take the car out, I try to make sure that I turn wheel lock to wheel lock to make sure I use the whole range of motion.

 

Jay

 

 

Thanks, I'll have my mechanic check that one out next time i take the car there .  I guess the belly pan has to come off   

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[hot968]

Max is the best I wish I lived closer to Pa.

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[ds968]

Forgot to post a follow up on this - checked the reservoir hose and any other accessible areas for signs of leaks which I can detect from above ( otherwise I have to remove the belly pan ) and everything is dry . But the other interesting thing is that there have been no drops on the ground since I topped off the reservoir to the max bar level on the dip stick.. when it was leaking the reservoir level was at the very bottom of the stick which is still about 5/6 full, so I really don't understand why a rather negligible incremental level of fluid added to the reservoir would make any difference in a leak vs. no leak scenario.  It's not as if the seals expand when there is just a little more fluid in the tank... do they ?           

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[94SilverCab]

Dan,

 

Do you have the early reservoir (clear top)?, the clear is known to crack from the black plastic bottom.

 

Jay

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