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Hi, I have a 1994 Saturn SL2 Automatic 100,000 miles. When I opened the power steering reservoir the power steering fluid came rushing out and was very bubbly. When I drive I hear a grinding noise when turning the wheels while stopped or going slow, and a whining noise while accelerating(turning wheels or not). I am so confused and I just don’t know what to do. Any help is appreciated! Thanks!
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[quote=”chase2604″ post=77924]Hi, I have a 1994 Saturn SL2 Automatic 100,000 miles. When I opened the power steering reservoir the power steering fluid came rushing out and was very bubbly. When I drive I hear a grinding noise when turning the wheels while stopped or going slow, and a whining noise while accelerating(turning wheels or not). I am so confused and I just don’t know what to do. Any help is appreciated! Thanks![/quote]
Could be low fluid, low fluid get aerated by the pump and produces foam and noise. Or it could be a bad pump.
Are you checking the level with the engine running or stopped.
I would probably drain the fluid, refill, and make certain that it is properly full. If the issues continue, it might be time to have a look at the pump.
These could easily be three separate problems.
The PS fluid bubbling is most likely due to low fluid level, check the level once the fluid has settled down and lost its foam.
The grinding noise could be from the steering rack or from the ball joints.
Whining while accelerating could be a loose alternator or PS belt.
@grg8888: I took it to a shop to get an oil change and they said my belt tensioner is bad, but I heard them say that about every person before me so I thought it was a scam. I did hit a big pothole and bent my rim a month ago, do you think it would make a large impact on the PS rack or ball joints?
@Raistian77: I checked while engine was cool, hot, and running.I have been leaking PS fluid, so I have been checking up on it a lot. It seems to be foamy and overflow a soon after I shut the car off.
If you are indeed leaking fluid and the fluid is getting
aerated. The pump needs solid fluid to work. Can you find
the leak? Here are brand new leak articles to help.http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/finding-and-fixing-fluid-leaks
I would not trust the opinion of the salesman at an oil-change place.
Do not believe a single word said by any salesperson. I hope your parents already drilled this into you.
Go to an actual mechanic, one with dirty hands, preferably one recommended by a friend, to get the problems diagnosed.
And yes, hitting a big pothole can bend things and mess up the steering and suspension and make all kinds of noises. It can even make the PS fluid boil up.
Typically (though this may vary for some vehicles) you fill the reservoir, start the engine, and slowly turn the wheel from side to side, all the way, then refill the reservoir.
When I rebuilt the pump on mine, I followed that procedure to remove the air, the system still had a horrible moan in it. I wound up driving around for a few hours before I really got all of the air out of the system and got it to quiet down completely.
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