Power steering problem (stiff when cold, fine when warm but makes noise)

[brendan.melanson]

Hi,

For some reason whenever I first start and it's cold out the steering is really stiff and hard, then after it warms up or basically after I pull outta the driveway and go up the road it comes back fully but makes a weird sound (You can hear it in another thread I posted in below as it's in a video I posted on that thread, 2nd page).

[ontarian_frog]

Get the power steering fluid flushed. That'll fix it. You should be able to do that at school or home.

[brendan.melanson]

I checked it after about a 45 minute drive last night, well the fluid, it's still just a tad above the minimum fill line. So maybe it just needs some more fluid? Should I fill it to max whenever it's cold, then start it up and turn the wheel lock to lock and see what happens? We got more mild temperatures out now compared to the -30C we've been having so I'm guessing it'll all thaw out if there is something frozen in the lines.

[petrified.rabbit]

Flushed and topping it off are not the same. what noise does it make? rack noise or pump?

[brendan.melanson]

Yeah, I know. Well when its all warmed up its just barely over in the minimum fill line, so I'm thinking maybe if I top it up it'll solve the problem? I just had a house replaced a couple of months ago and they flushed the whole system and put in new fluid. My pump wouldn't be going would it?