Power Steering Pump Whining

Chambers · 03-10-2008, 01:36 AM

Hi all, Occasionally I hear a "bizzzzzzz" coming from the engine bay in my car when I start it in the morning. It usually just sounds for a second or two and then stops. Today when I started it up I heard it again but it sounded louder and the sound didn't go away. I determined it is the ps pump today when the sound kept going long enough for me to pop the hood and take a listen.

It sounded like the pump was starving for fluid, but it had fluid. When I turned the wheel the sound altered, when I reved the engine a little the sound altered as well, leading me to believe it was a belt being loose. I shut the engine off and checked the belt and it was good and tight, I started the engine back up again and the sound started again. I then drove around for a minute and it was still making the sound. Then all of a sudden as I was listening to it at idol, the sound started to get more and more quite until I couldn't hear it anymore. I don't know if the pump is damaged or what but its not a good sound.

Now the power steering does have a leak, but I fill it every day and I have never had it run out of fluid. The car does have 200k+ miles on it so I can only assume that its the original pump, any suggestions or help would be great!! Thanks.

f00g00 · 03-10-2008, 04:10 AM

I just changed mine, got a good one from the junkyard because mine sounded like Chewbacca at his whiniest. Mine was a constant whine due to bearings being worn.
Yours could possibly be air scince your constanly adding fluid. Get the leak fixed first, bleed the Hyd system and see if the problem goes away. It wouldn't be smart to change the pump and not fix the leak too.

supramacist · 03-10-2008, 05:09 AM

It's got a vaccum leak and you have air inside the p-stump it self.
Much like your coolant system.

Give it a burp and the noise will go away.

Chambers · 03-11-2008, 03:23 AM

Mmmm... Ok, Makes sense, How would I go about burping it? I know I will have to fix the leak before hand but in the mean time, please enlighten me. Thanks.

supramacist · 03-11-2008, 06:38 AM

How I go about it...., and I'm sure there are variations of technique.

I pull the cap and watch for bubbles. I let it run. I crank the wheel back and forth from 1 polarity to the other and work it till I don't see bubbles.

Even with this..., my pump whines like a wookie upon initial start up.
But after that it doesn't do it again.

I attribute this to an advanced reman oem p-stump.

If you top off the fluids. Poor it slowly with no brakes to prevent air even going inside the system.

Hope this helps.

Chambers · 03-11-2008, 12:55 PM

Yea, I have done that a few times before, but I only did it once or twice though. I didn't think to do it until no bubbles, as I never really look for bubbles, but I will now. Thanks.

supramacist · 03-12-2008, 12:55 AM

Most people do it till the whinning stops.

If you have someone turn the wheel you'll see bubbles like an aquarium at first.

h8z2luze · 03-12-2008, 06:36 AM

got any good websites for ps hoses and/or fittings? I need one as well.

supramacist · 03-12-2008, 06:26 PM

The only place i know to check is:

Performance Parts Aftermarket and Racing

Dial ext 103 ans speak to dave. If they don't have them he'll know where to look.

darkstarcooley · 01-28-2010, 05:43 PM

Mine does the same on cold days. As for the leak, if its just around a fitting I would suggest using Lucas power steering stop leak. Its kinda expensive at $10 a bottle. Mine took 3 to solve my leak problem.

03-10-2008, 01:36 AM	#1
Chambers walbro fp Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA - Harford County, Maryland Posts: 481	Power Steering Pump Whining Hi all, Occasionally I hear a "bizzzzzzz" coming from the engine bay in my car when I start it in the morning. It usually just sounds for a second or two and then stops. Today when I started it up I heard it again but it sounded louder and the sound didn't go away. I determined it is the ps pump today when the sound kept going long enough for me to pop the hood and take a listen. It sounded like the pump was starving for fluid, but it had fluid. When I turned the wheel the sound altered, when I reved the engine a little the sound altered as well, leading me to believe it was a belt being loose. I shut the engine off and checked the belt and it was good and tight, I started the engine back up again and the sound started again. I then drove around for a minute and it was still making the sound. Then all of a sudden as I was listening to it at idol, the sound started to get more and more quite until I couldn't hear it anymore. I don't know if the pump is damaged or what but its not a good sound. Now the power steering does have a leak, but I fill it every day and I have never had it run out of fluid. The car does have 200k+ miles on it so I can only assume that its the original pump, any suggestions or help would be great!! Thanks. __________________ Whats in the garage, well.... in the yard. 1986.5 Toyota Supra - NA - 5 spd 1986 Ford Ranger Lowrider - 5 spd 1984 Ford Ranger XLT - 7" Lift - 4X4 - Auto "Stuck in the 80's"

03-11-2008, 03:23 AM	#4
Chambers walbro fp Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA - Harford County, Maryland Posts: 481	Mmmm... Ok, Makes sense, How would I go about burping it? I know I will have to fix the leak before hand but in the mean time, please enlighten me. Thanks. __________________ Whats in the garage, well.... in the yard. 1986.5 Toyota Supra - NA - 5 spd 1986 Ford Ranger Lowrider - 5 spd 1984 Ford Ranger XLT - 7" Lift - 4X4 - Auto "Stuck in the 80's"

03-11-2008, 12:55 PM	#6
Chambers walbro fp Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA - Harford County, Maryland Posts: 481	Yea, I have done that a few times before, but I only did it once or twice though. I didn't think to do it until no bubbles, as I never really look for bubbles, but I will now. Thanks. __________________ Whats in the garage, well.... in the yard. 1986.5 Toyota Supra - NA - 5 spd 1986 Ford Ranger Lowrider - 5 spd 1984 Ford Ranger XLT - 7" Lift - 4X4 - Auto "Stuck in the 80's"

03-12-2008, 06:36 AM	#8
h8z2luze 12psi boost Join Date: May 2006 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 338	got any good websites for ps hoses and/or fittings? I need one as well. __________________ 1989 Supra 7MGE MK3 5-speed project... http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2385505

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03-10-2008, 04:10 AM	#2
f00g00 12psi boost Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kuwait Posts: 292	I just changed mine, got a good one from the junkyard because mine sounded like Chewbacca at his whiniest. Mine was a constant whine due to bearings being worn. Yours could possibly be air scince your constanly adding fluid. Get the leak fixed first, bleed the Hyd system and see if the problem goes away. It wouldn't be smart to change the pump and not fix the leak too.

03-10-2008, 05:09 AM	#3
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	It's got a vaccum leak and you have air inside the p-stump it self. Much like your coolant system. Give it a burp and the noise will go away.

03-11-2008, 06:38 AM	#5
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	How I go about it...., and I'm sure there are variations of technique. I pull the cap and watch for bubbles. I let it run. I crank the wheel back and forth from 1 polarity to the other and work it till I don't see bubbles. Even with this..., my pump whines like a wookie upon initial start up. But after that it doesn't do it again. I attribute this to an advanced reman oem p-stump. If you top off the fluids. Poor it slowly with no brakes to prevent air even going inside the system. Hope this helps.

03-12-2008, 12:55 AM	#7
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	Most people do it till the whinning stops. If you have someone turn the wheel you'll see bubbles like an aquarium at first.

03-12-2008, 06:26 PM	#9
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	The only place i know to check is: Performance Parts Aftermarket and Racing Dial ext 103 ans speak to dave. If they don't have them he'll know where to look.

01-28-2010, 05:43 PM	#10
darkstarcooley Stock Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 2	Mine does the same on cold days. As for the leak, if its just around a fitting I would suggest using Lucas power steering stop leak. Its kinda expensive at $10 a bottle. Mine took 3 to solve my leak problem.