Ever since I got my 04 xB, which is last april, I've been having a wierd noise coming from my power steering when the car is cold and I turn my wheels. Its as though its forcing too much. so today I thought I would check it out. I checked the oil, and it was a little low so I added some more and retried it at least 5 or 6 times on each side while the car was raised, and while it was on the ground. It stopped, so I went for a ride and everything was perfect. But, after having the car parked for 2 hours, I re-started my car and tried it out, and there goes the noise again. So..... I'm thinking its either my pump thats done or my rack and pinion that is due. Not sure if anybody ever had this problem, or ever had to change their rack and pinion. My xB has just over 76000 miles, and I do all my maintenance on it.

 

What sort of noise? If it's a whining, then it's probably the ps pump that's going bad. Mine is starting to go in my tc now. Just keep the ps reservoir full. Try to keep it clean under the car so you can isolate the leak.

 

Sorry, I didn't know that someone answered hahah. And its not like a whining sound, its really just an annoying noise as if the system had a hard time functionning. As soon as I lift the wheels off the ground and turn them, there's no noise.

 

Are you braking when it makes the noise? I'm confused does it only do it when you turn the wheel at a stop? Or does it do it when you turn while the car is in motion. If it does it say for example if you drive like I do, and when you are backing out of a parking space, and you turn the wheel all the way before you give it throttle mine makes sort of a noise, but it's normal. Every car I have ever owned has done that. Even the 07 Dodge pickup I leased right when it came off the lot brand new. It's kind of a grinding noise?

 

Yeah, After a lot of thinking, I think its actually a normal noise that it does when its forcing. THanks for the help!