When the engine's cold, the power steering pump on my GS4 whines. After it warms up a bit, it's completely silent. Anyone else experience this? Is it something to worry about?

 

It could be the serpentine belt that is causing the noise.

 

yeah i have that same problem... i was thinking that im running low of fluid making the ps pump starve, i have some extra tranny fluid i might try and pour some in.

 

No, it's not the belt, it's the pump. Fluid level is correct. If it had been run dry (or really low) at some point, it would be noisy all the time. Anyone?

 

Sounds (no pun intended) like the pump is going out. I had a steering pump go out on my Grand Am (years ago) and it did the same thing. The noise got progressively worse until the belt started slipping. It lasted 6 months before it finally went. You can either wait or choose to replace it early...how many miles are on it?

 

Just under 56K, so not a lot. Usually when a pump goes out, it's noisy all the time. After 2-3 minutes of warm up, this one's totally silent.

 

A friend of mine has a 97 SC400 with the same problem and the local Lexus dealer told him not to worry about it for now. He said it is not worth replacing right now but to wait till it fails.

I just noticed your screen name - Ex540guy - I am assuming you had a 540 before? How do you like your GS compared to the Bimmer?

 

Hameed:

Not worrying about it sounds good to me

Before I bought the GS in Septmeber, I had a '97 Cobra for a year, which I modded big time. Mustangs are like Harleys; you buy a base, and then build it. Great fun, but not too practical with a new baby. Before that, I had a '95 540i - hellrot (the bright red) with Dinan wheels, chip and intake, and the best part... a 6 speed.

Overall, I like the Lexus better. The relative pluses of the BMW were the manual trans, the handling (the GS has factory 17s with Michelin Pilots, and it's otherwise stock), the sound system (the Nak's nowhere close to the BMW's Alpine system), the brakes, and the styling - I think the E34s are just gorgeous, especially in bright red. The Lexus is quicker, has better ergos, more reliable electrics (hey, it's a Toyota), is way easier to work on, and isn't a money pit. You wouldn't believe how often you have to replace stuff on a BMW (control arm bushings, water pumps, and motor mounts might last 70K), and how expensive parts and labor (for the stuff you can't/won't do yourself) are. I was always worrying about what would break next, and how much it would cost. I'm glad I had one, but I'm also glad it's in the past. I'll be holding on to the GS for quite awhile.

Pete