moaning noise while turning left at slow speed

[Rob@USC]

Lately (past 2 weeks or so) my car has started making a moaning noise while turning left at a slower speed (like in parking lots or some intersections, probably ~15mph). It only happens occasionally and when I try to reproduce it, I can't get it to because I think it only happens when the wheels are turned at a certain angle and at a certain speed. When I got home today, I checked and it doesn't look like the tires are rubbing anything. The hood's open now so it can cool down some and I can check the power steering fluid level. I know that may not fix it, but I'm out of ideas. The tires are fairly new (about 2 months old) and I had my alignment done at the same time. I tried a search and didn't come up with anything.

Does anyone have any ideas? I don't want to take it to the chevy dealer for warenty work because I'll be without my car for a day or two and I don't want to have to bum a ride there, back, and to work (it's about a 20 min drive to the closest dealer).

Rob

[Runnin-SAtown]

i have the same problem, and have had for about a year... im not really shur at this point what it is, but i THINK it is the rack. like a seal or a valve leaking inside. thats my theory at least

[Rob@USC]

I just checked the fluid level and it's about 2 mm below the "fill" line. I'll pick some up tonight or on my way to work on Monday and hopefully that'll fix it. Is there anything else I should check for the cause of this incase it doesn't fix it? What kind of steering fluid does it need? The owners manual says "GM Part No. 1052884 or equivalent". What's that equal to if I go to Advanced Auto or is there only one kind of power steering fluid?

Rob

[F1GT]

Originally posted by Rob@USC:
I just checked the fluid level and it's about 2 mm below the "fill" line. I'll pick some up tonight or on my way to work on Monday and hopefully that'll fix it. Is there anything else I should check for the cause of this incase it doesn't fix it? What kind of steering fluid does it need? The owners manual says "GM Part No. 1052884 or equivalent". What's that equal to if I go to Advanced Auto or is there only one kind of power steering fluid?

Rob

It'll say on the back of the bottle, "equivalent to xxxx" or something like that.

Mine does it once in a long while, I think it was the rr lt brake, since it does it when I turn and brake at a slow speed. I don't think filling up to full line is going to make it go away. Which area is it coming from?

[Dan Vincent]

Power steering fluid is plain old ATF (Dexron III). Get the car on jacks and check your steering components (esp. tie-rods/ends) as well as checking the rack for leaks.

Also make sure your power steering pump seals haven't died, it should weep/leak when it goes. Excessively low PS levels generally mean there's a leak somewhere (captain obvious mode), but noises in steering generally revolve around components nearing failure or sticky brakes.

[BirdOfPrey01]

it may be a ghost! Wooooohohoohooooooohooooo

did you check power steering?

[Rob@USC]

Originally posted by F1GT:
I don't think filling up to full line is going to make it go away. Which area is it coming from?

It's coming from the front. I can't tell where exactly because (as I said) it only happens at certain times and is nearly impossibly to reproduce since I don't know how to. :(

Originally posted by Dan Vincent:
Get the car on jacks and check your steering components (esp. tie-rods/ends) as well as checking the rack for leaks.

Also make sure your power steering pump seals haven't died, it should weep/leak when it goes. Excessively low PS levels generally mean there's a leak somewhere (captain obvious mode), but noises in steering generally revolve around components nearing failure or sticky brakes.

What should I be looking for? I'm not to familiar with steering components. Maybe I should take it to the chevy dealer. :( :(

Originally posted by BirdOfPrey01:
it may be a ghost! Wooooohohoohooooooohooooo

Funny you mention that, that's actually the first thing I thought of when I heard it. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Rob

[BLLDOGG]

mine does it too but i have a power steering leak somewhere, cant tell, the site is everywhere in that area [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[F1GT]

If you can't reproduce it, it will be hard to have warranty work done on it since they are not sure what you are talking about. All they can do is check it over and if all is fine you will get ur car back. Then you will hear it again.

The steering column connects to the steering rack, of course. The rack is what you see right below the oil filter where the oil gets all over when you remove the filter. You can see the steering column connecting to it. You can also see the hoses from the P/S reservoir.

Try checking the p/s level when it's hot as well. And if you don't see any leaks or nothing... then maybe it's not the steering and something else.

Check your brakes while you're at it and next time you wash your car spray a stream of water on the caliber and pads. It gets rid of my squeal for a while,,,then it comes back. I'm too lazy to put the anti squeal compound on.

[Rob@USC]

After I got off work today, I drove around in an old parking lot behind what used to be a department store years ago. I know what position the steering wheel was in when it made the noises before, so I only needed to figure out the speed. I drove around in circles for a good 20 minutes and the only noise I could notice was my tire noise (dang cheep tires). Why is it you can never reproduce the noise when you want to? Anyway, I also picked up a quart of powersteering fluid after that on the way home. I guess I'll go out there and fill it up. When it cools down (it's like 95 out there now) I'll get under the car and take a look for a leak or visible wear. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Rob

[marvin smith]

I am having the same problem and I pretty much came to the conclusion that its my exhaust. Basically if I turn left at slow speeds I get the same sound you described and i wiggled my exhaust around and it would seem that when turning left the exhaust sways a little to the right and makes contact with something underneath and makes that noise. I could be wrong but that's the only thing I've been able to come up with so far.

[Runnin-SAtown]

as far as it being the exhaust... if it were, he would hear a LARGE clanging sound instead of a moan... and unless you have an aftermarket exhaust that wasnt installed well.... then your exhaust is clear of everthing.the only thing that it MAY be tapping is the driveshaft joint boot (its metal and has about a 1 inch additional radias than the driveshaft) and thats only aftermarket (still)... i personally still think its the rack... like i said ive had it for a year and i have exhausted every other possibility.... my 2 cents

[Rob@USC]

yeah, I doubt that was the exhaust. I haven't touched the exhaust in front of the cat and that noise was definately coming from the front end. I have only heard the noise once since I added the whole 2 ounces of fluid at most :knocks on wood:. Hopefully it's nothing major.

Rob

[marvin smith]

Yeah if its comin from the front of the car I wouldnt guess its the exhaust, my noise is comin from the passenger side pretty much right behind the catalytic converter. So I guess it's two different things. Hope you get it fixed.