Noisy Power steering when cold...

[mrbongo]

We all know the feeling - just back from holiday and back to work... no-one likes it! Nor does my Chimaera it seems, as when I got back into her after 2 weeks out, started her up the power steering pump groaned and moaned like an old man having to give up his seat at Christmas dinner...

Then the moaning went away when she warmed up? Is this likely to be something related to a leak, low fluid levels, or just being sat for 2 weeks, alone, bored, lonely, cold etc etc...

I'll take her out for a good thrashing this weekend to smack her back into life, but would appreciate any thoughts on this?

Oh, and I got engaged on the skiing trip - what a result! And I didn't even have to bribe her with the ring - she said yes before I'd even got it out! Delighted!

[travelling_man]

congratulations

my pump made a noise when the fluid level had gone low, its quite easy to check even i managed to do it.
i've also read that you should check the actual level after you have been for a drive, whilst it is still warm
michael

[mrbongo]

Cheers!

Thought so - any recommendations as to what fluid to pop in there?

[That Daddy]

auto trasmission fluid dexron 11 or 111 or atf its not important,as long as you dont run it low for long.if you have i would recommend a change of fluid.

[mrbongo]

Just checked the levels and indeed - it's low! So off to get some more and top her up, hopefully that'll stop her moaning!

On a different note altogether, when we were out in Italy skiing, some dude was driving his Lambo Diablo around the resort... only in Italy!!!

[mdotrutherford]

As a precaution you better take a butchers underneath the car and the reservoir for any leaks as I would suspect if its dropped a significant amount to make the pump whine then its had to have gone somewhere.
Hopefully just a loose jubilee clip or similar easy fix.

[mrbongo]

All topped up and sorted - cheers!