# Power steeing pump

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** sl, noises, saturn, engines\
**Created:** [July 26, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525 "2010-07-26T22:32:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![saturnwhine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@saturnwhine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/saturnwhine)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525/1 "2010-07-26T22:32:19Z")

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My 99 Saturn SL2 (113000 mi)has a whine coming from the engine. This noise changes pitch, getting higher as I accelerate. It is present when the car is idling. My mechanic says the power steering pump is internally blocked and needs to be replaced, cost approx $425.  
  
  
  
 Why would the noise be present when the steering wheel is not in use as in idling? Could it be a belt?

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525/2 "2010-07-26T22:49:28Z")

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The power steering pump is always turning, regardless of what you do with the steering wheel. Are you sure the fluid is at the correct level? It’s easy to check.

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525/3 "2010-07-26T22:53:11Z")

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Remove the PS fluid reservoir and clean the filter screen you will find inside. If this screen is plugged up it will starve the pump for fluid…

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**Author:** ![saturnwhine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@saturnwhine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/saturnwhine)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525/4 "2010-07-27T12:42:43Z")

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Fluid is at appropriate level

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**Author:** ![saturnwhine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@saturnwhine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/saturnwhine)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525/5 "2010-07-27T12:44:14Z")

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I was told a ‘vein’ was blocked

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525/6 "2010-07-27T14:13:17Z")

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You were not told that here…

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**Author:** ![saturnwhine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@saturnwhine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/saturnwhine)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525/7 "2010-07-27T14:35:51Z")

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No - that was part of the mechanic’s diagnosis

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525/8 "2010-07-27T15:20:29Z")

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Ask your mechanic to remove the reservoir and clean it out. A half-hour job.

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**Author:** ![saturnwhine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@saturnwhine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/saturnwhine)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525/9 "2010-07-27T20:07:09Z")

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Thanks - I’ll do that

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**Author:** ![saturnwhine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@saturnwhine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/saturnwhine)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 11:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/power-steeing-pump/52525/10 "2010-07-28T11:39:18Z")

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Power steering and rack flush, plus fluid, power steering bleed all performed 3/2/09. Could the reservoir and screen become blocked since then?