As the weather cools down, your vehicle may start making all kinds of funny noises. As winter weather approaches, there are a few things you may want to have checked or adjusted to make sure your car is ready for cold weather.
One of the systems that can start making funny noises is your power steering system. If you find your power steering making noise, there are a few possibilities for the source of the noise. A worn-out pump or air in your system could definitely be causing the noise, but it’s also possible that everything is working correctly even though things are noisy.
The pump in your power steering system is most likely a vane pump meaning it uses an impeller and centrifugal force to pressurize the fluid in your system. These types of pumps can start to whine if the operating conditions aren’t perfect for what the type was designed to operate in.
One of the operating conditions your system was designed for was the viscosity and additives used in your power steering fluid. If the fluid is too thick, too thin or doesn’t have the right additives it can also cause your power steering to make noise.
If you find your power steering making noise and it looks like everything else is working correctly, incorrect fluid type, viscosity or simply old fluid may be causing the problem. A quick fluid flush may get things quieted down again but if your system is a few years old or older, it may need a little extra help to get quieted down.
If this is the case in your system, we recommend using BlueDevil Synthetic Power Steering Fluid. BlueDevil Synthetic Power Steering Fluid meets or exceeds the standards set by your vehicle’s manufacturer and is even compatible to be used in Honda® power steering systems! Not only does BlueDevil Synthetic Power Steering fluid have the right additives to keep your system quiet, but it also has the added benefit of a synthetic formula to maintain the correct viscosity over a wider range of temperatures keeping your system quiet all winter long!
You can pick up BlueDevil Synthetic Power Steering Fluid at one of your local auto parts stores like:
- AutoZone
- Advance Auto Parts
- CarQuest Auto Parts
- NAPA Auto Parts
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Pep Boys
- Canadian Tire
- Walmart
Pictures Provided By:
power_steering_noise.jpg – By May Chanikran – Licensed by Getty Images – Original Link
BlueDevil Products can be found on Amazon.com or at AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA, and other major auto parts retailers.
4 responses to "Why is My Power Steering Making Noise"
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My 2017 honda accord has mechanical steering. Sometimes when I turn sharp corners or make a u turn it hesitates almost dies. Dealer cant find problem. Help
Sherry,
Thanks for your question about your 2017 Honda Accord. If your car has electronically assisted steering it’s possible there is a problem with the assist motor and it’s putting a large current draw on your alternator bogging down your engine. A dealership could find this by watching electrical load while turning and it would most likely necessitate replacing that motor. If your car has a truly manual steering rack then it seems more likely that you’ve got a large vacuum leak or fuel problem that when the car turns quickly to one side or another gets worse as things shift causing your engine to stumble.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I have a 2004 Buick ranger col 4.2liter. It whines constantly and no leaks and steers fine. Noise coming from front by ps pump. Not bubbling or leaking and does change a little when turning the wheel back and forth. Is there a way to save it or do I have to replace it or could it be something else. Please help
Timothy-
Thank you for asking about your Buick Ranger. A whining sound coming from the power steering would usually indicate that air is trapped in the system, or that the power steering fluid has lost its physical properties that help the system work at peak performance. You may want to try flushing out the old power steering fluid and refilling the system with clean fluid. If the problem persists, you may want to bring the car in for repair.
Thank you!
-BDP