Error404

Every time I turn my steering wheel I can hear a squeeking and creeking sound... My powersteering fluid is dead in the middle of full and empty, so that can't be it... can it?

Should I just go under and start squirting WD-40?

Thanks!

StealthElephant

the only time i hear "creaking" is when the car isn't moving and i cut the wheel all the way left or right....hopefully its nothing major....i just filled my PS fluid so that is fine

Error404

I hope it's nothing major as well

Maybe someday I'll get it looked at... someday...

StealthElephant

yea really, i only care how fast she goes in a straight line not around a race track so it's not a priority

Error404

but what about parking lots... drive threws... and every day driving?

StealthElephant

what about'em

Error404

haha!

Any way, does anyone have any Idea if squirting WD-40 on some parts underneith would hurt anything? I really don't know, but that squeeking and creeking is starting to get on my nerves.

StealthElephant

Isn't WD-40 a degreaser? I would think you would want to grease it....depends, is the creaking from bent/damaged parts or just a little age?

Error404

well, there are new tierods, and a few other new parts related to the tierods... I'm not really sure, I'll have to find that reciept that I got with the car.

Tang

Is the sound easier to hear outside the car or on the inside? It is possible that maybe one of the bolts in the tie rod ends might have loosened up since you replaced them, but to me it sounds like it might be something in the steering column. Does the steering wheel have excessive play in it? Does it move up and down without having to hit the tilt lever. When I say move up and down I mean is just a bit like maybe half an inch.

Also when did you have the tie rods replaced?

Error404

Well, the tierods were replaced about a month ago right before I purchased the car, and yes, my steering has about 1.5 inches of play in it, it HAD 3 inches, but I said I would not buy the car with that much play in the steering, so he replaced a bunch of parts up front (which he said he would if I wanted him to... so I said yes). Any way, it fixed about half of the play, but there is still a bit there, but not near as much as before.

I don't think the steering wheel moves up and down with out the lever, but I'll try. I'm also not sure about how loud the squeeking is out side the car, because I'm the only one who drives it :P But I'll get someone to drive it around the parking lot and see for my self.

What does this hint to?

Also, while I'm trying to diagnose noises, my car "whines" a bit, and the whine increases in pitch (but not volume) as I get higher RPMs (not with MPH, but RPMs). I'm not sure if it whines when I'm up to speed, because my exhaust drowns out just about everything when I am on the gas, but while parking (moving slowly) I notice the steering and the engine whine. I assume it's the engine/tranny whining because it sounds like it coming from the front of the car, and not the rear by the differential.


Thanks Tang, I appreciate it!

Error404

Well, the creeking is definantly coming from the tierods (or something they are directly connected to), because when I put my head down there it is clearly from that area and not in the steering column (unless it's all the way at the bottom of the columb). Should I grease some parts?

Tang

Ya I would just start spraying down the steering system with WD40 or some PB Blaster if you can get it. Just spray on the threads if you see any.

Error404

PB Blaster?

Error404

Well, I believe the whining sound is coming from one of my belts or pullies, sounds closest to the AC belt (even when the AC is off, havn't tried it with it on yet) when I stick my head under the hood while the engine is at idle.

Could it be an old belt? what would fix this? The pullies all look aligned together as best I can tell.

Thanks bunches!!