Squealing noise

[AnglerfisH]

I picked up a '99 Altima GLE yesterday and I have a question. When I start the car up cold, it makes a loud metallic squeal. It also makes the same noise when I turn the wheel completely left or right. What is going on? It sounds power steering related. I checked the p/s fluid levels and they are fine. Not sure exactly what the culprit is on the power steerig though. Also, the headgasket on the front side had a deposit of old dirty oil on it that still looked moist.When I touched the oil it was a grimy compound like it had been there awhile. Pretty sure it's not catastrophic, but just would like some other board member input.
Modified by AnglerfisH at 2:20 AM 11/15/2004

[silvawolfe]

sounds like your ps pump is bad, when it squels like that its because a vane inside the pump is either bent or stuck now its grinding away at your housing. the reason it gets louder or softer as you turn the wheel is because a pressure change pushes it a different way

[navysnail]

are you sure the belt isnt slipping?

[NISTECH]

Hey these posts are way out dated and all related to altima which tells me they have merged several altima threads to NOM. Kinda screwed up the flow. but It will be all better in a couple days.

[navysnail]

wow good catch, i didnt even look at the dates.