whining power steering pump; problem?

[dieselnutjob]

The 806 has started making an engine speed whining noise.  I'm pretty sure that it's the power steering pump but I'm not 100% sure.  It's the same noise that some cars make if you keep turning the steering wheel when already at full lock.

 

How can I confirm that it is the power steering pump and not something else?

 

The power steering is still working.  Is the noise a problem?  I suppose that my fear is that it will (or already has) break up and take the valve or rack with it.  I changed the rack a few years ago and it was both expensive and a pain in the neck job.

 

The noise developed yesterday (along with the heater fan dying) on the first journey after being in long stay at an airport for 10 days.

[Inspector Morose]

Air in the system? Give it a day or two then reassess.

[dollywobbler]

If it's PAS, it should get noisier as you operate the steering. If it does, get someone to keep making it do that while you look at the reservoir. If it's frothing, there's probably an air leak, which means there's probably also a fluid leak. If the level is low, it could be making it more noisy.

 

Otherwise, alternator bearing or cambelt tensioner. Easy to remove the alternator from suspicion - crowbar resting on it with the engine running (make sure it doesn't slip off into the belts!) and then rest your ear on the other end.

[saucedoctor]

Does the car have aircon? I bought a Xsara once that was making a godawful racket like that. It was the AC compressor.

[PiperCub]

^ +1 for that, my old Eunos started making a row, thought it was the PAS pump but it was the AC compressor pulley mounting that was knackered (took the unit off & fitted a shorter belt - problem solved).

 

Otherwise, if it's not the PAS/Aux belt(s) wearing out as they do get noisy when worn, try draining and replacing the PAS fluid. I do this when I buy a car, you'd be amazed at the crap that comes out, this has quietened down slightly noisy pumps before.

[dieselnutjob]

actually I remember now that a few months back I started getting a squealing when the AC was off.  My solution was to just leave it on all the time.  The AC pump is okay but the bearing that allows the pulley to freewheel when it's off is shot.

 

Maybe the heater fan packing up made the AC go off, or maybe it's too cold for the AC to come on or something.

[DS20]

Is there the right amount of fluid in the reservoir? The first I knew of a PAS leak on the Saab was a noisier PAS pump. Topping up the fluid made it quiet again, as an interim fix before fixing the leak.

[barefoot]

Plus eleventy on this, exactly the same symptoms and cure with the 944.

[beko1987]

My old zx 1.4 had a whiney pas pump, never did look at it, and I doubt the new owner has either!

[dieselnutjob]

today it warmed up enough, and the heater fan worked so that the AC would work.  The noise stopped.

 

Power steering was a total red herring.

 

Next I need to buy a driveshaft as the near side CV joint is making horrible noises.