Constant "whine"

[Stallion]

So it's been a while since I started her up (I just got home). And I started her up to go for a drive and I hear this constant "whine" coming from under the hood. I open her up and I hear it coming from a belt and/or pulley. So I start driving and when I go to turn it gets much louder. So I'm thinking it's one of a couple things

1) the coldness/stiffness caused the belt to not give much, with too much tension on the pump/bearing. But it didn't go away even when the engine warmed up.

2) pump is failing. Which is bad. Very bad.

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

Stallion

 

[78SilvAnniv]

First. Check your power steering fluid level. It sounds like you may need to add a little bit.
Heidi

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Steering fluid, or tighten your belt to the pump. Or get a new belt for the power steering pump. 1/2 inch deflection on the belt is the proper amount.
Is it a SQUEEEEEEEAL or a RRRRRRRRRRRR sound?
Squeal is a belt, RRRRR is low on P.S. fluid.

Hi Stallion, Hi Heidi!

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Hi Pete!

I am a master at checking ps fluid level for my vette. My 78 had the WORST leak for such a LONG time! I can check it cold and even hot without burning myself. I have small arms...

The hardest part is getting the cap with the stick out of the pump and around the brackets and belts without dropping it. Next hardest part is getting it back in there! :L

I've got it 'dialed in' on mine, but I do recall another member some time ago saying to cut off the bottom of the cap's dipstick to allow for better maneuverability in the future.
Not cut it OFF, just make it shorter and still allow you to read the fill-to levels.
Heidi

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Hi Pete!

I am a master at checking ps fluid level for my vette. My 78 had the WORST leak for such a LONG time! I can check it cold and even hot without burning myself. I have small arms...

The hardest part is getting the cap with the stick out of the pump and around the brackets and belts without dropping it. Next hardest part is getting it back in there! :L

I've got it 'dialed in' on mine, but I do recall another member some time ago saying to cut off the bottom of the cap's dipstick to allow for better maneuverability in the future.
Not cut it OFF, just make it shorter and still allow you to read the fill-to levels.
Heidi

Oh yes, that is fun, isn't it? I use the upside down two finger approach. By the time you read the mark it has bumped into everything around it.:L I made a tube with a funnel on it to fill the reservoir, since you can't possibly get a bottle down there.

 

[78SilvAnniv]

I also like the two fingered approach. I sneak up on it.
I have a two foot long, skinny funnel for the ps. I used to carry a slim one that was about 14" long, bottles of ps fluid and a towel to clean my hands with when the leak was very bad.
Heidi

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Stallion went off line, maybe he went outside to check it?

Well, anyway it was good visiting for a while.

Pete.

 

[brusso]

I get a strange whine from inside the passenger compartment, when I floor it.

Oh, wait, thats just me complaining that it's not fast enough!

 

[ed_in_pa]

I get a strange whine from inside my house whenever I go to the garage. Oh, wait, that's my wife complaining about me working on the Vette again.

 

[78SilvAnniv]

It's been 3 days...what was it, Stallion? Low fluid?
Heidi

 

[Jack]

I agree ... easiest thing to go for first is check the ps fluid.

Failing that, fairly common for alternator to whine ... particularly when its bearings are about to go south.

Just because it gets louder when you turn does not mean it's in a steering component. The ps pump does work harder when you turn ... thus the belt has more tension on it when turning ... if ps pump shares belt w/alternator then there's more tension on alt pulley too ... and on alt bearings.
JACK:gap

 

[Stallion]

It's been 3 days...what was it, Stallion? Low fluid?
Heidi

Yep. Low fluid. But the problem is that she is spitting the ps fluid up quickly. I think I have a leak out of the pump. And a big one, too. Huge puddle already.

I had to take the alternator off if its bracket (and remove the bracket itself) just to get at the ps pump cap. That was rediculous...

 

[ed_in_pa]

Your belt may be the wrong size. I couldn't get to my PS cap until I got the correct belt size.

 

[Stallion]

Well it's not that. The alternator has it's own bracket, respectiviley. But also mounted on the bottom of the alternator is a metal arm to keep it from budging. This arm is held into place by two bolts on the block and lies right over the ps cap.

 

[lnirenberg]

Are you sure one of my kids isn't hiding under your hood? I better do inventory.

 

[brusso]

Yep. Low fluid. But the problem is that she is spitting the ps fluid up quickly. I think I have a leak out of the pump. And a big one, too. Huge puddle already.

I had to take the alternator off if its bracket (and remove the bracket itself) just to get at the ps pump cap. That was rediculous...

Did you recently tnsion the p/s belt? If so did you use any kind of prybar or other tool to pry against the pump? If that is the case, you may have a crack in the reserviour.

 

[Stallion]

Nope, didn't use any tool to get the belts on. That can't be it.