My PS pump is whining like a brat in line at Disney in August.

It's much worse when cold.

My questions are:
1. Is there an easy way to drain ALL the fluid and refill it with a conditioner
and maybe a different kind of fluid? -- Based on pump location issue.

2. If I can get it drained and refilled, is it worth the effort. Being the pump
has 175K on it and has seen better days, should I just let it whine?

This is on my 95 of course.

_________________
Black 95 SSEi (original owner) 238K miles
Black 05 GXP (some idiot put the first 12K on it)186K miles
Black 04 Tahoe (original owner)310K miles
Black 16 Traverse (original owner)90K miles
Black 15 Lacrosse (some nice lady put first 15K on it)43K miles


"You can have one in any color as long as it's black" - H. Ford

Noise can be caused by air in the system or a worn pump. It can indicate that the pump is about to fail - or not. I had a Dodge Caravan with a whining pump that continued to function for five years. If you have no leaks in the system, your problem is more likely a worn pump.

If you have no leaks, see no metal chips and want to try a conditioner, it should be enough to replace the content of the reservoir and see if there is any improvement.

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1998 3.8 Dodge Caravan 214K
2000 3.3 Dodge Caravan 175K
1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe 4-dr sedan 25K (needs some work!)

Sorry to ask so basic a question, but have you checked the fluid level? Pumps low on fluid sound just as you describe.

Remember, it's not only hydraulic fluid, it lubricates the pump bearings, too.

( I hate to admit this, but I've always just used ATF for the power steering fluid. Never had a failure, either. )

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462 cubic inches of REAL Pontiac power.

We use ATF for power steering fluid at work all the time, even on the big trucks (semis). Works just fine. I do use PS fluid in my car though, but honestly I don't think it makes much of a difference.

My pump also has a bit of a whine to it, and it's new. But it's a Cardone unit. Works fine so I'm not worried about it.

But yeah, check your fluid level. That you say it's worse when cold suggests that it may be low.
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-Dan
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2012 Nissan Maxima SV Premium • Super Black • Charcoal • VQ35DE • Bose • Factory HID • 5000k LED Int/Ext
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__I n n o v a t i o n__T h a t __E x c i t e s

Yeah, I check all fluids frequently. I'm pretty anal about that kind of stuff.

I'm pretty sure there was a quiet recall on these PS pumps or hoses back in 97 or 98.
I never had mine fixed though.

If I can just get this car to last another year or two without spending a ton, I'll be
happy. I will then have a teenage driver and will need a replacement vehicle.
I just want to stop the whining.

It's like my old supercharger coupler. I knew it was time to do something about it
when the girl over the drive-thought intercom said I can't hear your order because
you engine is too loud. How embarrassing.

_________________
Black 95 SSEi (original owner) 238K miles
Black 05 GXP (some idiot put the first 12K on it)186K miles
Black 04 Tahoe (original owner)310K miles
Black 16 Traverse (original owner)90K miles
Black 15 Lacrosse (some nice lady put first 15K on it)43K miles


"You can have one in any color as long as it's black" - H. Ford

Lucas makes a product that's supposed to help with power steering problems. Could probably siphon the reservoir out and re-fill with that and some fresh ATF or power steering fluid and see if that helps.

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Ha Ha Ha, I just came back from O'Reilly with some of that stuff. $10

The SSEi has two reservoirs, one upper with a large hose to the lower on the pump.
I can't get to the lower and remove that darn hose / clamp. I'll try again tomorrow
and then maybe use a turkey baster to suck out as much as I can. This will
probably be very messy.

Maybe a little suction tube into the upper reservoir down through the large hose into the lower.

We'll see.

_________________
Black 95 SSEi (original owner) 238K miles
Black 05 GXP (some idiot put the first 12K on it)186K miles
Black 04 Tahoe (original owner)310K miles
Black 16 Traverse (original owner)90K miles
Black 15 Lacrosse (some nice lady put first 15K on it)43K miles


"You can have one in any color as long as it's black" - H. Ford

I think sucking the main reservoir on the pump should be enough when drained to fix it. It will all diffuse out.

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock