Whirring noise when turning on S70

romania1 · Post by **romania1** » 19 Aug 2007, 16:04

Yet, *another*

problem on my Volvo, that I love dearly!!!

Okay, hopefully JRL will be able to help me again!!!

I have searched through this database and not found anything that accurately describes my "problem"

My problem is this: Whenever I am turning to park, the steering makes a kind of "whirring" noise. This is the only time we hear this noise, when we are parking the car, or slowing to turn into the driveway, or something of that nature. Whirring is the only way I know to describe it. It doesn't sound like rubber on metal, or metal on metal. I wish I could make a sound clip of it and upload it so that you guys could hear, what I am probably not describing adequately enough.

The fluid levels are fine for the PSF. Could it be some bad bearings somewhere?

Post by **JRL** » 19 Aug 2007, 16:33

Well it sounds as if it's in the PS pump or the rack. The racks DO go bad on these cars quite often
If it IS a rack, fcpgroton sells an aftermarket rack that's actually quite good at a decent price

romania1 · Post by **romania1** » 19 Aug 2007, 17:17

Thanks for the info. How do you tell for sure whether it's the PS pump or rack?

Post by **JRL** » 19 Aug 2007, 17:30

romania1 wrote:Thanks for the info. How do you tell for sure whether it's the PS pump or rack?

It's not always so easy, (if no obvious leaks), you should find a GOOD mechanic to help diagnose

romania1 · Post by **romania1** » 19 Aug 2007, 17:32

Well, finding a good mechanic is easier said than done.... I live in Lousiana, and our politicians/politics ain't the only thing that's crooked!!!

Post by **mrreilly** » 19 Aug 2007, 20:40

I had the same whining noise with my can when I got it. It ended up being the rack. And it cost me about $850 to be done at a shop. i'm sure I could have done it. But this was before I had built up my confidence from doing all my other repairs. Oh well.
So my guess is the rack. I haven't heard anything in the way of the pump going bad yet from most others.
Good luck.

Post by **JRL** » 20 Aug 2007, 05:09

mrreilly wrote:I had the same whining noise with my can when I got it. It ended up being the rack. And it cost me about $850 to be done at a shop. i'm sure I could have done it. But this was before I had built up my confidence from doing all my other repairs. Oh well.
So my guess is the rack. I haven't heard anything in the way of the pump going bad yet from most others.
Good luck.

If it proves to be a rack, Groton's is about $230 vs. Volvos for $5-600
and it's good quality

Post by **hausmeister** » 20 Aug 2007, 14:44

You could always replace the PS Fluid as a start... not expensive and might help.
I had some problems with the fluid, even though I changed it not long ago(also it still looked good); put in new ATF and it was quiet again. Don't know if there is another problem, but it has been quiet since.

Post by **JRL** » 20 Aug 2007, 14:47

hausmeister wrote:You could always replace the PS Fluid as a start... not expensive and might help.
I had some problems with the fluid, even though I changed it not long ago(also it still looked good); put in new ATF and it was quiet again. Don't know if there is another problem, but it has been quiet since.

It's supposed to be ATF, perhaps someone added regular "PS fluid" in yours

Post by **hausmeister** » 20 Aug 2007, 15:08

sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I know, and it was atf in there... don't know what happend. Was maybe 6months old...
I'm just thinking he should try to replace it before doing anything expensive?