93 ATX whine noise when accelerating...power steering pump?

[SHObogdan1]

Hi everyone, for about a month now my 93 ATX makes a constant whining noise that occurs during acceleration. I can still hear the noise at idle but isn't as apparent and I can't figure out where it's coming from exactly. My power steering fluid definitely needed changing so I did that last week. Now, the whine isn't as loud but still there. Do you guys think the power steering pump is going bad? Anyone else have this problem?

 

[SHOspazz92]

My dads car did the same thing. I was under the same assumption it was the PS pump. The TQ converter went out a few weeks later.

-Sam

 

[SHObogdan1]

Hmm, the transmission fluid in my car looks good and is at the right level. It shifts smoothly during gear changes so I hope this won't happen to me. In addition the serpentine and timing belts look in good shape.

 

[rbruso]

Pull the accessory belt and run the motor. If the noise goes away, try turning all the pullies and idlers by hand and see if any of them feel rough.

If the noise doesn't go away you'll have to dig further.

 

[SHOspazz92]

Pull the accessory belt and run the motor. If the noise goes away, try turning all the pullies and idlers by hand and see if any of them feel rough.

If the noise doesn't go away you'll have to dig further.

The ATX is all on one belt. So that is a no-go.

-Sam

 

[SHObogdan1]

Yeah, I guess I'll have to get a stethoscope and pinpoint where the noise is coming from. I'm not entirely certain if it's the power-steering pump because it doesn't make an unusual noise when turning around corners or steering. It whines louder as the revs build up. I thought it could be a good possibility because I drove with the whine for a couple of weeks before changing the power steering fluid.

 

[rbruso]

The ATX is all on one belt. So that is a no-go.

-Sam

I know the ATX only has one belt, and I don't see how that's a no-go. If you pull the accessory belt you can still start and run the car and see if it's anything on the belt line. And with the belt out of the way you can turn all the pullies and idlers by hand.

 

[SHOtimer]

My dads car did the same thing. I was under the same assumption it was the PS pump. The TQ converter went out a few weeks later.

-Sam

You beat me to it.

The transmission fluid had metal flakes in it by that point.

Doug

 

[SHOtimer]

Pull the accessory belt and run the motor. If the noise goes away, try turning all the pullies and idlers by hand and see if any of them feel rough.

If the noise doesn't go away you'll have to dig further.

This is what you need to do. Don't run the motor for more than just a few seconds...just long enough to tell if the noise is there or not.

Doug

 

[SHObogdan1]

Yeah, I'll probably just use a stethoscope because it's just too hard to hear it at idle, only easy to hear past around 3000 rpms

 

[SHOF3AR]

Same thing is happening to me. Just replaced ps pump and it's quieter but still there. Got a second opinion and they told me its my water pump pulley so I'll b pulling it off a replacing it off my other engine sitting under the tarp

 

[Irish Pride]

i'd put my money on the lower idler bearing. all too common.

 

[SHObogdan1]

Well I ended up using the stethoscope and it seems like the noise is definitely coming from the power steering pump. So I guess it's now time for a 60K. Thanks again everyone for the ideas!

 

[TopGunnYFZ]

Remove the intake should be step #1 in the repair guides to anything under the hood.

 

[SHObogdan1]

Not sure if I have the money to do a full 60k but...in order to replace the power steering pump, does the timing belt have to come off like for the water pump?

 

[rbruso]

Not sure if I have the money to do a full 60k but...in order to replace the power steering pump, does the timing belt have to come off like for the water pump?

Timing belt and covers stay on for a P/S pump replacement.

 

[TopGunnYFZ]

Not sure if its the same MTX to ATX but it was a PITA on my MTX with the intake still on. Nothing comes off besides the pump, I do remember having to mess with a motor mount iirc. Find a helper with skinny arms and hands lol.

Your 100% sure its the PS? Sure would be a bummer to go through all that just to have it be an idler.

 

[SHObogdan1]

Not sure if its the same MTX to ATX but it was a PITA on my MTX with the intake still on. Nothing comes off besides the pump, I do remember having to mess with a motor mount iirc. Find a helper with skinny arms and hands lol.

Your 100% sure its the PS? Sure would be a bummer to go through all that just to have it be an idler.

Yeah I know what you mean, I made the mistake of driving quite a while with the power steering fluid jet black so I figured that may have caused it. The steering itself is fine, I haven't lost power steering. Hopefully it didn't mess up the rack. I'll check out a junkyard to see if can find a good idler pulley (if I can find a SHO) and I'll replace the serpentine belt. I'll end up taking the intake manifold off too because I have to replace the valve cover gaskets as well.