Under Hood Noises

[dlduscg]

Noise rater loud chatter/squeel coming from front audible either side of engine louder during cold start and gradually subsides until almost completely gone when fully warm. During driving a muffled sound appears coming from engine especially noticeable when maneuvering the steering and at a stop while in gear sound surges as if reving engine then subsides to just a muffled hum. Recently replaced steering rack and replaced steering fluid with synthetic Mobil 1. No loss of fluid in resevoir, or sign of dripping either fluid or antifreeze. Car drives normally otherwise. Checked fan blades and all other viewable sources.

Dave/99Q

[dlduscg]

The second word should be rather and not rattle as you might suspect

[dlduscg]

I must correct one thing however, its more of a chatter than a squeel, squeel is not the right word, and it does seem to be louder on the passenger side front.

[3Q Jay]

maybe the PS pump (it is on that side down low on the fgy33).

my '97 does a loud 'hummmmm' on the PS when cold, subsides when warm.

try a socket extension (long one) on the valve cover (mat have to remove the ornamental plastic), and also on the pump body.

[dlduscg]

tks will check on that. When it gets warmed up in park the engine surges slightly back and forth, while the chatter subsides, it is still present, and the engine contunues to surge at regular intervals, which indicates something dragging are releasing...

[elwesso]

do you think you could have some air in the PS system? I had that issue one time when my fluid went low, and they make nasty noises.. Any signs of foam in the fluid, especially right after you turn off the engine.

[dlduscg]

Yes, I noticed the fluid looked bubbly, and the sound after the chatter goes subsides, actually sounds like a PS with low fluid. It started when it got cold, here in FL and it is more pronounced because the temps are in the low forties

[dlduscg]

Checked PS again and found fluid pushing out through top cap, but where is the air coming from

[elwesso]

Look in the FSM for the "bleeding" procedure.. The once the PS system gets air in it, its tough to get out... Ive been through this..

I think probably the best way to fix this is to take the return line off the PS res, plug up the hole, and run the car with the return line into a separate container, and constantly monitoring the level of fluid in the reservoir..

What happens is that once air gets in, the PS makes the fluid really bubbly and the air cannot escape as easily in a more viscous fluid (ATF) compared to say water..

However, I had the exact same thing happen to me on my previous Q, and even after I got all the air out the pump was noisy until it warmed up, i would reckon from the constant cavitation of the pump that I must have done some permanent damage.

[dlduscg]

Actually my first problem was a tiny leak from the rack 6 months ago. I decided to get a rack from rack doctor and took it to a BG service garage to do the work. The new rack leaked worse than the old one, so I got another from rack doctor and had them do a complete BG power steering flush tech service. After 5 months the chatter began, then when the noise became louder, and other symptoms I checked the reservoir and found it to be bubbly. I followed the procedure for purging the air and all it did was push the fluid out, spurt a few bubbles and after the bubbles cleared, it was still at the same level as when I started, I did this several times, and not only is it at the same level, at the top of the reservoir, but I can no longer move the steering wheel with the engine running. except with extreme difficulty. I will probably have to have it towed somewhere to figure out what went wrong. BG service should be under warranty, but I do not count on anyone or anything being dependable after this fiasco.

[dlduscg]

This issue was resolved by a complete BG flush and cleaning of the steering system, probably due to some residual debris from the rack replacement last June. Thanks to everyone who helped "steer" me in the right direction.