Something I noticed tonight... only seems to happen during accel and turning, definetly from under the hood (its not gear whine, at least... location wise, the reverse whine is next to me, this is up in front of me) whines during normal accel/maintaining speed, hard accel doesn't affect it. turning makes it much, much louder... semi-relevant info: AC off (button, vents on floor only, not defrost) radio was off after I first heard it defrost/fogger off tried with both the fans on and off, still made the noise (so its not a volt spike, afaik) car was warmed up at the time (gear oil and engine oil, coolant obv). thoughts? :ugh: my guesses - belts, power steering (needs more fluid?...doesn't explain accel tho), front CV's (but its not clicking...?), radiator fans turning on (and complaining from the cold?)
negative, too dark (lol 2.5i, no light under the hood) and I don't have the garage tonight... will have to check it tomorrow / monday ...come to think of it, it probably is, because that would explain why the steering randomly gets heavier every now and again while I'm cruising around (I know it shuts off over a certain mph so its harder to spin, but I rather doubt that is set to 30-35). Definetly have to check that.
Is it normal operation, or ... ? I checked the fluid level, car was cold (had been sitting all morning 6am-1pm), fluid level was right at the cold max line on the res. so that shouldn't be it, I'd think. I realize I worded it poorly in the original post, didn't put a "?" after "needs more fluid". I also went out and tested for it again just a bit ago, it only did it once (while turning, accel whine was not present), vs just about all the time (last night). only difference (same route, same etc. etc.) was ambient temp. last night was ~10F, this was more like 30F.
so you have enough fluid.....but what color is it? it should be pink. mine makes noise, but the pump is failing, so the fluid is pretty dark.
...yea, it was looking pretty dark. brown/blueish. I'll go snap a picture of it just for clarity (or second opinion, either or). EDIT: took the pic with the flash, was washed the hell out... toned that down in photoshop and the blue became glaringly obvious. So... not fluid, not pump going bad...? :eek3: EDIT2: went out for another drive.... RPM dependent, not gear dependent... seems to fade from 3rd on up (doppler effect + other noises getting louder - wind, intake, etc. - is my guess as to why). Does it in neutral as well as in gear.... and since I mentioned it earlier, ambient temp is again 30F (snowing this time, didn't really get to test the turning part for obvious reasons)... and its definetly quieter than the 10F one. Guessing its just normal, and I'm just paranoid at this point. :ugh:
its totally your pump. mine did that and then the pump went out....its nota biggie. just go to a napa or somthing like that and have them get you a new pump. i still havent gotten a new pump but its not really bothering me anyways. i dont mind not having my power stearing it just makes you buff!
Oil change soon anyway, guess I know who's doing it (and checking the pump under warranty...) now. As much as I don't want to set foot in their service dept. again.
yes, it is fluid. Subarus CANNOT run power steering fluid in their power steering systems. they use Dexron III ATF (auto tranny fluid). don't ask me why.....but that's your problem. running power steering fluid will destroy the pump (as proved here, and on my dad's '94 legacy). go get a long (~2 foot) piece of 1/2" inner diameter rubber hose a new pump a few quarts of ATF and a buddy -with the engine off -disconnect the small rubber piece on the return line near the pump. and only disconnect the end farthest from the pump (I hope that made sense). -use a bolt or something to plug that hose and replace the clamp to keep it somewhat sealed -attach the long piece to the metal line coming up from the steering rack where the smaller piece was just attached -drop the end of the long hose in an empty container of somesort (milk jug, bucket, whatever). -have your buddy start the car (make sure your bucket, lines, tools are clear of any moving parts!) -let it run until the flow into your container slows a bunch -then pour fresh ATF into the reservoir. don't need to fill it, just enough to give it something to pump -once it starts coming out the same color as it's going in, have your buddy slowly turn the steering wheel all the way one way, and all the way back a couple times. -then turn off the car, replace the pump as normal. this will help get as much of the baaaad fluid out of the system before putting your new pump on. also, I'd recommend doing this ASAP before the PS fluid damages the steering rack. out of curiosity.....what car do you have. you say 2.5i....so I'm assuming within the last few years. anyone know if they've changed the design to use PS fluid? I'll check my FSMs EDIT: the '02 impreza FSM still has Dexron III listed.
2006 imp 2.5i, its still Dexron III (according to the cap) Wonder if they'll take a warranty claim on it - front end was rebuilt after previous owner hit a deer with it, so they are (most likely) the ones who put the PS fluid in it. I (personally) haven't touched any of the fluids since I bought it, just the dealer (regular oil changes, etc.)... who pissed me off last time, so I was going to start doing it myself this time around.
Dexron III is a dark pink, almost red. Subaru has since released a tech note that says anything 2006MY+ should have ATF-HP in it. That fluid is still red in color, but it is a synthetic based ATF.
Yeah... mom'n'pop fix it shop up in bemidji, *shakes fist* Wasn't the subie dealer who tarded on the fluids, and it wasn't me... guess I'll call the dealer tomorrow and see if they'd do it as warranty or not. :|
follow up: dragged it into the dealer, they couldn't find anything... and apparently the fluid (was) red, but now its just dirty as hell... ...so either all of their techs are deaf, or I'm paranoid. probably a little of both.
Maybe doppler effect didn't let them diagnose it right If you don't hear it with stereo on - then ignore it until it gets louder.
