Aginn10

ny husband passed away recently & he always diagnosed car problems. I can barely describe this sound much less diagnose it. I’ve read many other threads & didn’t feel I found an answer. Car trouble HORRIFIES me!! I’m in Texas and this week it’s been below freezing a lot. Tuesday I came home from work nothing out of place or sounding weird. An hour later I go to the car and it sounded like a blender when I started it and as I backed out I could hear and feel this strange noise that was similar to a whine/grind. Very similar to how it sounds if you accidentally put in lower gear and try driving fast. This sound happens when turning either way as well as just driving straight. When idle, there is no noise or feeling. I have power steering fluid. I just (6 months ago) got all new breaks and rotars and front axels..? I think that’s why it was.

cl206

Hi I just noticed your TPMS light is flashing!! I just got mine fixed! The thread is very recent.

As for the sound, I think it means there might be air bubbles or leak in your power steering system. Did you recently had work done on the power steering system? Like as in a flush from a mechanic?

Aginn10

Thank you first off for taking the time and replying. I bought this car used in 2014, Ive had fairly good luck,normal wear and tear etc.I dont know what was done before me, but *I* personally have never done anything with the PS fluid or any part of the PS. It isn't leaking that I can see on drive and the level is high. That is, unfortunately, the extent of my knowledge... I had been driving so when I started it, there was no "blender" sound hahah I will capture that in the morning!!

Ya that TpMS or whatever light has been on for awhile, I cant pay to get a new sensor! So I deal!

ESh

Power steering fluid is low, or the pump is going south.

igzy

Yeah, like the others posted above, the noise is coming from the power steering system due to either low fluid, bad pump or bad rack. Also it could be seized i-shaft joints. The easiest is to confirm the fluid level, and then try to figure out where the noise is coming from...

For TPMS, I didn't want to pay for sensor(s) either, so I disabled the light in the dash. A system check will still tell you what sensor it is, but the light will be off. I wrote how-to thread for this on the forum here...

Aginn10

This am.

Aginn10

Aginn10

igzy

This is the steering rack, it turns the wheels, bad usually means teeth on the internal bar are worn out or damaged:



The intermediate (i)-shaft has 2 joints and they are known to seize, the part itself connects the steering wheel to rack and is inside the steering column (behind dash) and comes out the firewall, looks like this:



This is the overall steering system diagram (naming convention varies in industry, here i-shaft includes steering joints and rack includes gearbox):

ESh

Aginn10

Ok here is the power steering fluid. I could see it bubbling as the car was on. I don’t know if it’s low but it LOOKED low in general?

Aginn10

ESh

You should check the level woth the entine off.
Take some photos with the engine off.

Aginn10

arnieosp

iTrader: (1)

It sounds and looks like your PS fluid is low and some air got into the system. I suggest, with the engine turned off, fill the PS fluid up to the proper level, about 3/4 way of the narrow part of dipstick. Start the engine and turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and all the way to the left about 10 times. It should bleed the system, the air bubbles will come out into the PS reservoir and the noise will disappear. Then re-check the PS fluid level with the engine off. Add PS fluid if necessary. Good luck.

P.S. Make sure you use the proper type of fluid, look at the PS reservoir cap, it will say what is required. I think it's DOT4, you can get it anywhere.