I have a 99 corolla, the cheapest model, no power windows etc. The car started about 6 months ago making a noise every now and then like a bearing chatter under the hood. It was very intermittent.
The noise suddenly got worse in the summertime one day when it was very hot, but it stopped at the end of the day. I managed to get the dealer to hear it and they said it was the tensioner pulley, which they replaced. A couple of days later I heard the same noise again, but then it stopped for about 6 months.
With the cold weather, the noise came back tenfold. It sounds like a whine like the power steering pump and an intermittent rattle like a really bad valve tap, and it is much worse when the car is hot. It happens while the car is sitting still and idlling. If I put slight tension on the steering wheel the noise stops completely.
I had the car back to the dealer again for diagnosis and they said this time it was the power steering pump. So, I had a good friend who has done major work on all kinds of cars help me out changing out the pump. That was yesterday. Today the noise is exactly the same as before we changed out the pump.
I am certain it is coming from the area near the power steering pump and idler pulley, and I had also changed out the alternator last year but the noise is definitely lower and farther back anyway, definitely not near the alternator.
Any ideas? I work with a bunch of guys who all work on cars a lot and one of them thought maybe a valve sticking in the steering assembly? Any hints are welcome!
Im not an expert on this by any means, but what about the belt itself being a problem? Is it original to the car? How many miles does the belt/car have on it?
Im not an expert on this by any means, but what about the belt itself being a problem? Is it original to the car? How many miles does the belt/car have on it?
sorry should have specified - cars got 133k but belt was changed within last 15-20k and looks ok
Steering feels fine actually. I also bought an automotive stethoscope today and did my best to find the noise. It definitely still seems like the power steering pump but I don't understand how. It's exactly the same combination of whining and tapping but it's a new (or at least newly remanufactured) pump.
Hmm? I was thinking maybe the valve in your rack and pinion might be on it's way out. Don't kill me, but are you sure you have the proper fluid in it? Just trying to rule out what it isn't .
Hmm? I was thinking maybe the valve in your rack and pinion might be on it's way out. Don't kill me, but are you sure you have the proper fluid in it? Just trying to rule out what it isn't .
Hey I'd be happy if the problem is bad fluid
I used autozone power steering fluid - I've been told the only cars where you need special fluid is Honda's. I would blame cruddy AZ fluid but it made the same noise before with the stock/OEM fluid (I never refilled it, the dealer may have topped it off)
Take a candle, and, with the engine running, bring the candle in contact with the each edge of the belt for a few seconds. If the candle wax eliminates the noise, replace the belt.
I used autozone power steering fluid - I've been told the only cars where you need special fluid is Honda's. I would blame cruddy AZ fluid but it made the same noise before with the stock/OEM fluid (I never refilled it, the dealer may have topped it off)
actually toyota power steering requires Dex II (III) trans fluid. not regular PS fluid. so the generic PS fluid may have done more harm then good
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before you ask a 'how do i...' question answer this for me. do you own a repair manual for it? have you searched the forum for a similar issue?
actually toyota power steering requires Dex II (III) trans fluid. not regular PS fluid. so the generic PS fluid may have done more harm then good
Well, I went and checked the cap (can't believe we didn't look at the damn thing) and what do you know, Autozone was wrong (NOOOO SAY IT ISN'T SO) and, as you said, I should have used Dexron II.
Although I will definitely change out the fluid, it was making identical noises with the OEM fluid and pump so I suspect that's not causing the issue.
I read somewhere about a dirty filter in the resevoir causing aeration that makes noise, but my resevoir doesn't seem to have an obvious filter.
Take a candle, and, with the engine running, bring the candle in contact with the each edge of the belt for a few seconds. If the candle wax eliminates the noise, replace the belt.
The belt was changed fairly recently but I'll try it, I'll take any suggestion at this point. Thanks.
Could something be caught in one of the power steering hoses.
A partial blockage interfeering with power steering fluid flow, that
remained behind when pump was changed.
Did original pump have any broken vanes?
where are the iacv on these things they make a whine when they are dirty bad
Is that the modern equivalent of a PCV? I'll look up where it is, at this point it's worth a shot.
I'm suspecting though after buying and using a mechanic's stethascope (a very cool tool) that it is possibly the valve on the high pressure line, which we didn't replace with the pump, perhaps that valve is not regulating pressure properly. I have to get the alldata diagram to make sure, I only saw the valve on a generic diagram of a steering pump, but mine does look like there is a valve on the high pressure line going into the pump.
The iacv is different from the pcv valve. You can clean the iacv just makes sure you use the recomended cleaner. I just mentioned it because the iacv can whine. But I doubt that is your issue it sounds ps relater the iacv should be on the throttle body
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