Flushed PS now I have a noise

hemihead · Mar 27, 2010

After installing a PS new pulley and bracket on my ’02 with 8,800 miles I flushed out the system. I didn't do a power flush, just ran some fluid through while turning the wheel back and forth. I had no noise before doing this but now about the time the car warms up I hear a sound I can only describe as a very fast chirp or squeal, it goes away over 2500 RPM. The steering feels fine.

Do you think I pushed some crud through and now it’s causing an obstruction somewhere? What do I do now, flush it again or do I have to take it in for a power flush? I don’t think I did anything to mess up the pump when I had it out to change the pulley. I didn’t drop it and I was very careful to not get anything in it. What do you guys think I should try next to eliminate this noise?

2000_Black_RT10 · Mar 27, 2010

Just a thought.. is it an old serpentine belt? Did you get a bit of oil on it. Usually when a belt gets old, it tends to chirp and squeal slipping on a pulley, especially with the a/c on.

hemihead · Mar 27, 2010

I thought about that, I looked it over as best I could and didn't see any oil on it. I also looked for stuff rubbing and didn't see anything. The sound "seems" to be coming from the pump area but it's hard to be sure.

2000_Black_RT10 · Mar 27, 2010

It's tough to locate sometimes, having to check if it's the belt squealing on another vehicle, sprayed the belt and pulleys with a silicone aerosol spray can that you can get at a automotive parts store to see if it went away. If it didn't, it was usually the tensioner. The power steering pump circulates fluid with high pressure, imagining it would purge any air, maybe try cranking the wheel fully to the left and right a few times to purge anything out of the steering rack while the engine is running at a higher rpm (i.e. 3500 rpm) while parked in neutral..

hemihead · Mar 28, 2010

I started the car and let it warm up, no noise. I kicked the RPM's up to 3 - 3.5 K and turn the wheel stop to stop and the noise started again as the car came back to idle. When you goose it the sound goes away. It's seems like it's a pump issue because it takes pressure to start the noise.

Any other thoughts? :dunno:

plumcrazy · Mar 28, 2010

i think you could eliminate the belt for sure by putting a dab of grease on it and let it run for a second, if it goes away, its the belt ??

2000_Black_RT10 · Mar 28, 2010

I wouldn't use oil, just some silcone spray or belt dressing to evaluate belt slipping. Since the PS pulley was changed and to rule it out, wonder if it's the pulley contributing to the noise, how's the quality of the machined grooves, how was the finish, how was the taper fit on the pump shaft, is the pulley slipping on the pump shaft, check if it's tightened because sometimes machined aluminum parts need to be retightened again once seated and used? How old is the serpentine belt?

Ron · Mar 28, 2010

I'd suggested an even safer route. Spray some water on the belt. If the belt is the root cause, the sound will dimish or stop briefly and reappear as the water evaporates. Oil/grease seems counter intuitive to me and my one experience with belt dresing was a disaster.

hemihead · Mar 28, 2010

It's a Roe pulley so it's steel. The noise dosen't start till the car and therefore the PS fluid gets warm. I'll try one of the "belt tests" but wouldn't it squeal all the time if the belt was slipping? It's the original belt but the car only has 8800 miles on it and it looks good.

I took the pulley and pump to NAPA, they pulled to plastic one and pressed on the new one, no problems. I guess I can try marking the shaft and the pulley and see if it's slipping but it seems if it was doing that I would feel it in the steering?

Thanks for the thoughts guys, keep'em coming.

PacificSEASnake · Mar 28, 2010

From section 19-4 in my manual;
Condition: Chirp or squeal (power steering pump)
Possible causes: 1. Loose power steering pump drive belt.
Correction: 1. Check and replace automatic belt tensioner as necessary. Replace belt if worn or glazed.

8 year old rubber belt would be my guess. Easy & cheap fix. Even if it doesn't solve the problem, a new belt is not a bad idea.

hemihead · Mar 28, 2010

You're right Reidesign, you shamed me into it, I'll pick up a new belt and install it. That will answer or eliminate lots of stuff and I'll report the results back.

2000_Black_RT10 · Mar 28, 2010

I just ordered a PS pulley kit on Friday from JonB, and I'm definitely buying a new belt while I'm at it.. hence my curiousity of your Post..

On my diesel pickup, I had to change the serpentine belt every 2 years.. different design, maybe it had more of a load having more pulleys and exposure to heat, but I knew when I had to change it when it started chirping.. it chirped when the a/c compressor kicked on. Maybe try that on yours, run the car and turn the a/c on and off, see if it chirps simultaneously..

Good luck..

Purdue_Boiler_Viper · Mar 29, 2010

2000_Black_RT10 said:
It's tough to locate sometimes, having to check if it's the belt squealing on another vehicle, sprayed the belt and pulleys with a silicone aerosol spray can that you can get at a automotive parts store to see if it went away. If it didn't, it was usually the tensioner. The power steering pump circulates fluid with high pressure, imagining it would purge any air, maybe try cranking the wheel fully to the left and right a few times to purge anything out of the steering rack while the engine is running at a higher rpm (i.e. 3500 rpm) while parked in neutral..

Any idea what the normal torque is on a tensioner? I measured mine at 20 ft lbs to move the pulley through its range. I am having a similar chirp and am trying to track it down. The current belt has about 2k miles on it, since I did the Roe SC install.

hemihead · Mar 29, 2010

You guys were right, it was the belt. At the advise of "The Wizard" I squirted a little water on the belt and the noise went right away. Thanks for the help everybody. :2tu:

2000_Black_RT10 · Mar 29, 2010

I hope you don't plan on carrying around a squirt bottle rather than getting a new belt!

Just kidding.. glad it's sorted out.

Good suggestion by Ron in addition to the The Wizard to just try water.

2000_Black_RT10 · Apr 9, 2010

Did you get a new belt? All ok now?

I just got the aluminum pulley and bracket set from JonB, nice quality for the money btw.

Belt from a Chrysler dealer for $86 CAD w/tax, will be installing this stuff this weekend.

Cheers,
Mike

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Flushed PS now I have a noise

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