power steering noise? Help

spugeddy · spugeddy's Garage

I have what sounds like a power steering noise when I first start the car cold for the day. It lasts about 60 seconds or until I back out and turn the wheel one time, and then goes away and doesn't come back. Sounds like a pump/motor sound. If the car has been driven within the last 1-2 hours it doesn't make the sound, only when it is cold.

The belts were changed recently, and today I am going to check the PS fluid. I have read to use ATF fluid... Is there an easy job to flush out the current fluid. On my Mercedes diesel it was super easy, but this engine compartment looks a little tight.

Yurick · 05-20-2008, 04:55 AM

There is no good way to drain the power steering system other than loosening one of the hoses on the bottom.

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

Check the level first hopefully thats it.

Draining and changing the fluid is a bit of work to do it right. The problem is you will probably cause your hoses to leak after doing the drain/fill work so it is best to do a FULL job and replace the hose and flush the system. If that interests you let me know.

spugeddy · spugeddy's Garage

Thanks,

I will check the fluid first. I have been detailing my car for a day and a half. The PO did not keep it clean, and so I have been busting my arse, but it looks pretty darn good now.

ATF....right....and if I replace what is in the resevoir (turkey baster method) would that eventually get me a better mix of fluid than what is in there now, instead of changing out the hoses, and risking a new leak where now I don't have one.

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

Not that much comes out with the turkey baster method. Its pretty much a waste of time.

ATF is correct. Just use cheap stuff until you get around to a full flush and fill. A full flush and fill is a very cheap project. $10 - $20 parts and a few qts of fluid. You basically remove the old hoses cut the fittings off with a Dremmel, attach the old fittings to regular hose with worm clamps and reassemble.

spugeddy · spugeddy's Garage

The fluid looked low, and really didn't register on the dip stick. I am giong to fill and see what happens. Is there a filter in that canister. When I look down into it, there looks like a filter like my MB has....

Hopefully that solved the noise.

Yurick · 05-21-2008, 06:07 AM

There is no filter in the power steering system.

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

There is just a metal screen in the bottom of the reservoir.

Manolito · 05-26-2008, 08:52 PM

BMW considers the power steering fluid to be permanent, just like they consider the auto tranny fluid to be permanent. That's why they did not bother with a drain plug. It is permanent, if you don't plan to own the car more than 100k miles.

The PS fluid will normally be Dextron III ATF, unless it says differently on the reservoir cap.

The turkey baster method will take two or three repeats on different days to get fairly fresh fluid through the system. That's what I am doing.

I have a '97 with 250k miles that has charcoal colored fluid in it with the same symptoms you describe. I am changing the fluid to try to get a little more service out of the pump, since a pump and hoses runs $500 in parts at online prices. It seems to be helping, but the end-game is going to be a new PS pump and hoses.