Cold weather: screeching sound when turning steering wheel - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

hungt1999 · 10-23-2009, 02:58 PM

The weather has been getting colder and now when I start the car, if I turn my steering wheel either left or right more than half revolution, I hear a high pitch screeching sound. The sound stop if I release the steering wheel, even if the wheels are partly turned and if I continue to steer, it will keep screeching. The Screeching sound is loudest if I full lock the steering either left or right (screeching even the car is stationary or moving)

After driving a while, the screeching eventually stops a few blocks away

what can cause this? what should I do? I want to solve this now because I suspect the problem will get worse as the weather will be colder

kevmac · 10-23-2009, 03:19 PM

start by checking the fluid. Probably low. Maybe a leak.

BDSL · 10-23-2009, 04:12 PM

Check your belt and its tension.

Rip The E Brake · 10-23-2009, 05:56 PM

check the belts.... check the steering pumps tension, check the tensioner bolt on the alternator.

dJcHiKo · 10-23-2009, 06:22 PM

i had the same problem with my last corolla, i had a leak in the power steering tube, check your fluid.

hungt1999 · 10-23-2009, 10:45 PM

My steering fluid reservoir is full

In the middle of the day when the weather is warmer, no screeching sound

in the morning or at night when outside temperature drops, the screeching starts

I did a visual check on the belts, they look good, the tension seem tight and the belts have no cracks

which belt should I tension? is that the shortest belt that drives the steering pump?

do you think I should spray some belt dresser on the belts?

Rip The E Brake · 10-24-2009, 10:24 AM

Spray a little bit of dressing... only when the car is off... That is flammable and the alternator can ignite it...

Tension the alternator, as that is the one that most often comes loose.

Bitter · 10-24-2009, 10:34 AM

heres how to diagnose this safely...

get a spray bottle with water in it, spray water at the belts one belt at a time till the noise stops. the last belt you sprayed is making the noise, replace the belt and tension it correctly, problem fixed.

gene43t · 12-13-2009, 10:11 AM

I had a similar noise, on a 96 Geo we just picked up for my daughter. I pulled both belts off because i couldnt pinpoint it, and when i did the Harmonic balancer fell apart. it appears to have rubbed right through the front cover.

trife96 · 12-15-2009, 04:15 PM

here we go again....

the screeching is probably due to the fluid being slightly low. I noticed on cold mornings, mine will due it the first few turns. It's a combination of probably old fluid, or low fluid. Or cause it just plain cold!

However....I don't recommend adjusting the alternator tensioner to adjust tension on the power steering belt.

But others will tell you otherwise. If you look at it closely, you will understand why.

hungt1999 · 12-16-2009, 07:35 PM

problem solved! by tightening the alternator belt. I know, I should have tightened the belt of the power steering that goes to the water pump but it is a lot more work to remove the passenger wheel well cover etc.

by tightening the alternator belt, it add a bit more stretch on the water pump pulley which in turn, tighten the PS belt, although the water pump bracket itself does not move, its pulley can flex a bit to provide enough tension on the PS belt. Theses things are interconnected.

be careful not to tension too much the alternator belt. Mine was good, I can twist it about a quarter turn after tensioning

BDSL · 12-17-2009, 06:40 AM

Damn....took you almost 2 months just to check your belt????
See, I was right....see post #3.