Noisy Power Steering Pump when cold

[timwightman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close timwightman]

Hi All,

I have a 1997 Prado 3.4L Petrol with 237,000km. I have owned it for a year during which I have had no problems. Now that we have had a few cold days at the start of winter, when I start the engine, the power steering pump makes a pretty nasty whining sound. It continues until I have been driving for about 10 minutes. I never had the noise in summer. It sounds like a bearing about to fail, either in the pump or the pulley. Has anyone else had such problems before? If so, can it be repaired or does the pump need replacement?

Thanks,
Tim.

[damonat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close damonat]

sounds like a power steer pump on it's way.
you can get exchange power pumps from different mobs.

can you put your location in your profile.
it's easy to then refer you somewhere or to someone

[timwightman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close timwightman]

Hi damonat, I'm based in Sydney.
Thanks,
Tim.

[damonat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close damonat]

on the coast here, i have used and recommended coasteer automotive.
done plenty of jobs using there exchange stuff, and it's all but once been good and well priced.
just doing a yellow search in sydney picked 82 places.
hopefully someone in sydney can give you some direction to a good local operator.

[timwightman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close timwightman]

Hi guys,

I read on another forum about cavitation in the pump causing a whirring noise like a faulty bearing. So I checked the power steering fluid level and it was slightly under the cold mark even though the engine was warm. So I topped it up and since then there has been no noise, even on a cold morning. I suspect that on the cold mornings the fluid was contracting to the extent that air was sucked into the impeller causing the cavitation noise. During summer the fluid never contracted enough to allow air down in to the pump.

Cheers,
Tim.

[Blatchy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Blatchy]

Yes low fluid will make them noisey. You can get a rebuild kit and shaft for the power steering pump for about $80 if you have any other problems.
Mine had a leaking seal around the main shaft and when the fluid was low made the same noise as you desrcibed. Its all fixed now.

[odarp2000 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close odarp2000]

Re:

Yes low fluid will make them noisey. You can get a rebuild kit and shaft for the power steering pump for about $80 if you have any other problems.
Mine had a leaking seal around the main shaft and when the fluid was low made the same noise as you desrcibed. Its all fixed now.

Hi Blatchy,

Did you change the bearing yourself? I am going to have to do it soon, just wondering how difficult a job it is. I am fairly comfortable doing my own mechanical work..have done so for years. Good to hear from someone who has tackled this job before. Also where do you buy the parts?