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Whining or Squealing Noise When Turning Car Truck or SUV Steering Wheel

Created on: 2014-10-01

A whining noise while turning your steering wheel is a sure sign of power steering problems. Watch this video for tips on how to eliminate the noise

While 1A Auto strives to make the information provided in this video as accurate as possible, it makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or applicability of the content. No information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. All do-it-yourself projects entail some risk. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to assume this risk. 1A Auto is not responsible or liable for any loss damage (including, but not limited to, actual, consequential, or punitive), liability, claim, or any other injury or cause related to or resulting from any information posted in this video.

Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet.

Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.

In this video, we're going to show you how to fix the whining noise every time you turn your steering wheel from side to side.

First, we'll just let you hear the whining noise from the inside of the vehicle and the outside. So that whining noise is an indication that your power steering fluid is low. This is the car steering reservoir right here, and you can see on this vehicle, there's a max and min line. Sometimes it's hard to tell. With the cam light you can see the fluid level, but what you can do is take a flashlight and shine it through the reservoir, and you can see the line is down here.

Our min line is another half-inch higher, and then our max line is higher than that. When the vehicle's cold, you probably want to fill it up to about halfway between the line, and our vehicle right now is cold. So we're going to fill it right there, halfway between, and see how that does for us. Now, after we've topped off the power steering fluid, you can hear the whining noise is gone. So, wipe off any fluid, and it's important to try and understand why your power steering is low. These can develop leaks.

There are hoses between the reservoir and the pump. The pumps can also get bad over time. This is just an older vehicle, and it looks like somebody just kind of let it get a little bit low. Anyways, you can look down and see if you see any fluid or any wetness down there. Nothing but a bunch of dirt.

Then just look underneath the vehicle, just in the area that's below where the reservoir is and the pump. Obviously, you'll probably look at it after it's been sitting for a number of hours. See if you see any drips. Power steering fluid is usually clear. Also, some people do put automatic transmission fluid into their power steering, which is the same thing. Automatic transmission fluid is red. So, if you saw any clear kind of hydraulic fluid here or red fluid here, that's an indication that your system's leaking and you do need to get that fixed.

We hope this video helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.


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While 1A Auto strives to make the information provided in this video as accurate as possible, it makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or applicability of the content. No information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. All do-it-yourself projects entail some risk. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to assume this risk. 1A Auto is not responsible or liable for any loss damage (including, but not limited to, actual, consequential, or punitive), liability, claim, or any other injury or cause related to or resulting from any information posted in this video.

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