howling power steering pump

watertreatpete · January 11, 2004

It has been cold out for a few days(10 degrees and below) and I think my power steering pump is ready to die. When I start the truck(cold) it is making a metal on metal howling sound. I am not sure if it is the power steering or the alt. I hope it holds together for awhile because I am working out of state and can't get to my dealer anytime soon. I have heard that a few other people have lost their pumps and had no steering or brakes. Anyone else have this problem on a 2003 hd ext cab 4x4. 6.0-4l80e? I wish I had a block heater now!

pete

elgineddie · January 16, 2004

Hey, is it still togeher?

My Suburban's brakes just crapped out and I think it's because of that darn power steering/hydraulic booster pump. Mine ins't grinding though. Just really foamy inside and whining.

tmf6902 · January 16, 2004

Do you have enough fluid in it??? On my gf's corsica the power steering hose was leaking and it was making all sorts of noise and foaming inside....poured some fluid in it, and it shut up....I still had to get the hose fixed but it's better then a new pump. The crazy thing was the fluid was leaking from the hose, but it wasn't dripping on the ground??? I dunno where the hell it went, but it never dripped.

BIGMoe · January 17, 2004

The power steering pump on a 1996 Chevy pickup I had did that when cold. I drained as much fluid from it as I could and filled it with Synthedic ATF, and it never did it after that.

watertreatpete · January 17, 2004

It has been real cold here under 10 deregees. I think that is the main factor in the pump sounding like it is going to die. I am just going to take it to the dealer when I get home,(new jersey to western NY), If it breaks I have AAA.

I checked the fuild a few weeks ago it was full, When I got the truck new from the dealer it was low. It shouldn't be leaking it is only almost a year old truck. I just hope when I take it to the dealer they don't tell me it is normal, Like "thats just (cspsw)cold start power steering whine, it's not going to hurt anything".

pete