nasty power steering whine

[tford]

Anyone else run into this with these cars? What can I do to keep it from happening? It gets louder as the car warms up.

 

[GN Bob]

If you haven't changed your power steering fluid do it ASAP.

Drive for a few days then change it again and repeat until it is clean. Its pretty easy to draw it out of the reservoir with a turkey baster.

I do this annually, its a simple & quick way to keep the pump alive.

Bob

 

[1quick6]

Agree. Whatever you do, don't put anything BUT power steering fluid in it. Drain the reservoir, put fresh in and then bleed the system. Turn the steering wheel from stop to stop a few times to bleed some air and then check the reservoir for bubbles. If there is a lot of air, let it settle and try bleeding again later.

 

[tford]

I put it on my list

Thanks guys. I didn't know you should change power steering fluid that often. I barely drive this thing. Every how many miles should I change it? Thanks again, Tim

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Many yrs ago, there was the problem w/ the resevior being so small, the oil boiled and the pumps went away. Buick changed the res on my t-type to 1 from I think a Lesabre???
Your problem???

 

[TurboBuRick]

Two things cause ps pump whine. Sucking air or starving for fluid.

Check for loose hose clamps on the low pressure line. Also run your hand along the same line and make sure it's not kinked behind the pump.

HTH

 

[GN Bob]

The fluid is probably good for many years of full time driving.

Can you guess how many cars are on the road that never get the fluid changed for the life of the vehicle or PS pump? I'd guess that probably more than 80% of drivers don't ever change it.

I just do it annually because its easy and makes me feel like I won't have to worry about the PS system failing. I've also replaced the hoses to and from the reservoir.

Bob

 

[RmvBfrFlght]

Be sure to check the fluid level. The P/S pumps will whine like crazy if it gets low. All it takes is a small leak that doesn't get noticed. And before ya' know it, the pump is whining, BTDT.

RemoveBeforeFlight

 

[1quick6]

Can you guess how many cars are on the road that never get the fluid changed for the life of the vehicle or PS pump? I'd guess that probably more than 80% of drivers don't ever change it.

I think for most drivers, oil is the only fluid they ever think about unless they are pushed to do other fluids by the oil change place.

Admittedly, I went eight years on my brake and ps fluid and only flushed it because of my hydro conversion. Whoops.

 

[aminga]

Many yrs ago, there was the problem w/ the resevior being so small, the oil boiled and the pumps went away. Buick changed the res on my t-type to 1 from I think a Lesabre???
Your problem???

I think it was a J-body but there is a TSB out on it.

To the Original poster. Is the reservoir Regular RH threads or LH threads. If it's the former then it was never updated there is a replacement reservoir that will fix the whine.

The TSB only applied to 86's (I think) as it was fixed in the 87 model year

 

[tford]

The cap has left handed threads on it.

 

[aminga]

The cap has left handed threads on it.

Then it has the updated reservoir