Car squeals when steering wheel fully turned and Car whistles when idling

[alimoalem]

Hey guys, I'm back

My 1997 Nissan 200SX SE-R is making a couple noises.

The first one comes when I turn the steering wheel all the way, like when I want to park or make a U-turn. It's a squealing noise and makes the noise even if the car isn't moving. Any ideas?

The second is a noise the car makes when idling. If I'm behind a red light, for example, the car starts to make a whistling noise. If i rev the engine to >1200rpm, the noise goes away but comes back as soon as the engine drops below 1k rpm.

Mods to the car are intake and exhaust. Not sure it matters.

Thanks in advance guys

 

[dug777]

Wheel turn noise- ps pump going nuts, iirc, straining as you hold it against lock.

Don't quite lock it and it won't happen.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: dug777
Wheel turn noise- ps pump going nuts, iirc, straining as you hold it against lock.

Don't quite lock it and it won't happen.

Yeah, I've noticed not quite locking it doesn't make the noise but is there something I can do to take the noise away? While the car is small, it doesn't have a great turn radius. I wanna be able to turn!!

So ps pump is what you're saying? Alright, thanks

And thanks for the quick response. Thank God for the posters in Australia

 

[Fern]

Might be loose belts

Power steering belt under strain when turning like that. Sounds like it's slipping.

Fern

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Fern
Might be loose belts

Power steering belt under strain when turning like that. Sounds like it's slipping.

Fern

my friend's altima had those symptoms. relatively cheap/easy fix.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Fern
Might be loose belts

Power steering belt under strain when turning like that. Sounds like it's slipping.

Fern

If it's loud then that is probably the case, but most ps makes a funny noise (relief valve?)if you hold it at lock, at least in my fairly limited experience

EDIT: I guess it could also be air in the system, have you had the ps fluid topped up/replaced recently?

 

[cardiac]

At least check the fluid level in the PS pump first. The whistling could be a vacuum hose that popped off somewhere. Sounds like it, especially when you say it goes away above 1200 RPM.

 

[Foxery]

I've had several trucks with both of these. I always assumed the steering one was normal behavior?

The squealing engine is just a loose or dried out belt, and easy to replace.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: alimoalem

Originally posted by: dug777
Wheel turn noise- ps pump going nuts, iirc, straining as you hold it against lock.

Don't quite lock it and it won't happen.

Yeah, I've noticed not quite locking it doesn't make the noise but is there something I can do to take the noise away? While the car is small, it doesn't have a great turn radius. I wanna be able to turn!!

Nothing you can do about it. A PS pump will always groan some at full lock. Most manuals caution against holding the steering at full lock for more than 15-20 seconds as it can damage the pump.

If it's truly squealing you can try replacing the V-belt that drives the power steering and see if that helps. Should be an inexpensive belt.

ZV

 

[mikelish]

is your name Bubb Rubb? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccgXjA2BLEY

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: mikelish
is your name Bubb Rubb? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccgXjA2BLEY

i've seen that before, and i wish that was my problem. actually, i take that back, cause that would imply i'm the one with the problem and not the car

 

[SoulAssassin]

kinda echo'ing what others have said...i would replace your belt and check ps fluid before doing anything major

 

[AdamK47]

Power steering belt