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Power Steering is SCREAMING. HELP A GIRL OUT!

P

Princess

New member
Hey ya'll I am new to this whole thing, I recently noticed my car screaming and I started thinking maybe its just because its so cold out (sorry I am from MN where it does get rather cold and often cars dont start)

NEWHO.....

I drive an 2001, grandprix GT 3.8l V6 and I am 100% positive its the power steering and i am scared to drive it because I am small and cannot control my big baby if it does give out.

I contacted a few places on repairing it, its not cheap but oh well however I was advised to check a few things first.

Question.... where is sams heck is the power steering resovore (spell check)??? They said it should be located on the passanger side but I have spent a half hour standing out in the cold trying to find it and I am having no luck!

PLEASE HELP ME LOCATE THIS DARN THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 


On mine its under the Alternator bracket. I wondered where mine was until I had my alternator off and the bracket housing.
 
On the GT's Non Supercharged 3.8, the power steering reservoir is right under the Alternator itself. It is very hard to see, the easiest way to do it is to move your coolant reservoir out of the way, and its a little easier to see.

Hope that helps, mine was doing the same thing, I just filled my reservoir to the correct amount and I havn't had any problems since.
 
coolantreservoir.jpg


The coolant reservoir is outlined in the yellow, If you didn't know where it was.

But its held on by two small nuts that are very easy to get off, when its moved out of the way(just pull it towards the front of the car). Look direcly under the alternator and you'll see the cap that says power steering fluid.
 
Yes, first thing you should do is check the PS fluid. But make sure the car is cold first. If the car is warm, you can end up burning your arm. Not fun. But I have never had to remove the coolant resivour to get to the PS pump. Yes, it is difficult to find, or see. But not hard to just get your hand down in there and remove the cap. Especially with smaller arms than I.

So check your PS fluid. If it is low, fill it back up. But remember, even if the noise goes away, that fluid leaked out somewhere. Consider getting it looked at to find the leak.

Also, wanted to ask if you have noticed your steering getting hard at any time? Some do it when hot, some when cold, some only when turning slow. If so, then definitely a problem with the PS. If not, you could have a bad idler pulley, or a bad alternator, or a bad water pump. All those are on the same side of the engine and real close to one another. So sometimes it is hard to locate the one making the noise. So keep an eye out for signs of those going bad.
 
Zef_66 said:
Yes, first thing you should do is check the PS fluid. But make sure the car is cold first. If the car is warm, you can end up burning your arm. Not fun. But I have never had to remove the coolant resivour to get to the PS pump. Yes, it is difficult to find, or see. But not hard to just get your hand down in there and remove the cap. Especially with smaller arms than I.

So check your PS fluid. If it is low, fill it back up. But remember, even if the noise goes away, that fluid leaked out somewhere. Consider getting it looked at to find the leak.

Also, wanted to ask if you have noticed your steering getting hard at any time? Some do it when hot, some when cold, some only when turning slow. If so, then definitely a problem with the PS. If not, you could have a bad idler pulley, or a bad alternator, or a bad water pump. All those are on the same side of the engine and real close to one another. So sometimes it is hard to locate the one making the noise. So keep an eye out for signs of those going bad.
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Yeah, what he said! BTW I had a small leak on my olds one time in one of the lines. So Like ZEF said even if you top it off it leaked somewhere. Keep an eye on it and find the leak so you can get it fixed. You dont want to ruin your pump over a possible hose leaking. Like it was said a little tricky to find. Heck i didnt notice mine until i was tearing parts off for a mod and saw the cap.
 


I went through probably 4 power steering pumps in 3 months just because the place I kept going to for my repairs didn't put in a GM pump, but an aftermarket pump. Don't worry, you're car is safe to drive it's just is going to sound like **** and it'll be a little difficult to turn. When my recent one started leaking again about a month ago I put it some of the power steering fluid with the additive to stop leaks. Cost me bout $3 at Advance Auto Parts and now I don't hear any whining at all.
 
mine different year of gp 2007 . but was getting that at 31,501 klms . turns out they sanded off rust on one of the pulleys and change the belt. noise was at satrt upand idle. heard less or maybe not at all when i drove car at higher speeds.
 
AlmightyBirdman said:
I went through probably 4 power steering pumps in 3 months just because the place I kept going to for my repairs didn't put in a GM pump, but an aftermarket pump. Don't worry, you're car is safe to drive it's just is going to sound like **** and it'll be a little difficult to turn. When my recent one started leaking again about a month ago I put it some of the power steering fluid with the additive to stop leaks. Cost me bout $3 at Advance Auto Parts and now I don't hear any whining at all.
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x2. I went through two remanufactured pumps with mine. MSRP on a new pump from GM is $172, and you can get them a lot cheaper from GM Parts Cheap - Genuine OEM Online or PACE Performance - GM Parts, Crate Engines, and Aftermarket Accessories. You could also get a low mileage used one from Ed Morad (look up Morad Parts Company on eBay). Don't get screwed like I did (they charged me $220 for the reman pump).

The good news is, if the fluid's full and it's still whining, you can still drive the car without worrying.
 
The pump on the 3800 whines. No way around it. I've noticed that if you let it get low once, it'll whine louder the rest of its life but not sacrifice performance. Mind you, the new loudness is nowhere near "I'm out of fluid" loud, but it is definitely a bit more than when the car was new.

Just about every 3800 I hear accelerate by me while walking has that whine.
 


Sabrewings said:
The pump on the 3800 whines. No way around it. I've noticed that if you let it get low once, it'll whine louder the rest of its life but not sacrifice performance. Mind you, the new loudness is nowhere near "I'm out of fluid" loud, but it is definitely a bit more than when the car was new.

Just about every 3800 I hear accelerate by me while walking has that whine.
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I go through that with mine know. Especially when the fluid is cold and thick. Not a loud whine, but enough to hear it. Fluid level is fine, but got the whine. A few miles down the road and it goes away.
 
yea i noticed it when i first got the car in march.i just psych my self out and pretend its a gtp.lol.man i want one.
 
BADAZGTP said:
In due time man, in due time. Be patient, it will be well worth it in the end!!!
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yea one day.hopefully when i finish school i can get something better like a g8,gto, or firebird.say u see that 2011 trans am concept?man that car sick.hope they decide to make em.
 


johnnyj773 said:
yea one day.hopefully when i finish school i can get something better like a g8,gto, or firebird.say u see that 2011 trans am concept?man that car sick.hope they decide to make em.
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Haven't seen it yet. I'll google it and see what I can find. I'd love to have the GTO. At the Pinks AllOut I went to, a guy had one and upgraded it to a 6.7L. It was pretty quick. And another ran a S/C and was down right rediculous. Low 11's I believe in the 1/4. I like the new G8 Also. Major sleeper. Big HP in a sedan. WOW!!!
 
BADAZGTP said:
Haven't seen it yet. I'll google it and see what I can find. I'd love to have the GTO. At the Pinks AllOut I went to, a guy had one and upgraded it to a 6.7L. It was pretty quick. And another ran a S/C and was down right rediculous. Low 11's I believe in the 1/4. I like the new G8 Also. Major sleeper. Big HP in a sedan. WOW!!!
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yea that g8's nice,just weigh as much as a damn truck.they got a gxp version suppose to do 400+.that'll be the srt8's poison.
 
johnnyj773 said:
yea that g8's nice,just weigh as much as a damn truck.they got a gxp version suppose to do 400+.that'll be the srt8's poison.
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I hear ya. But, when you have the power to move th weight, it's all good. Gotta look into the GXP, heard about it, but haven't read up on it yet. Just chacked out the GT so far. Trying to talk the wife into getting one. That would be awsome.
 
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