I took my truck into one of those automatic car washers and after I got out my pwer steering pump started to whine. It sounds like a Ford now (there power steering whines). My question is which is easier to do, rebuild the pump, buy just a pump, or get a new pump and resevoir? I'm looking at those options through RockAuto.com. Or is the whining not a sign of its failure? PS It does have fluid in it and its full.

What about a fluid change would that stop it from whining? I've never changed it and I don't know about the previous owner.

 

easiest and cheapest thing would be to change as much of the fluid as you can and then add some ps conditioner to try to quiet it down. might work/might not.

next easiest thing is to replace the whole assy, w/reservoir.
i wouldn't think the extra work of the diy rebuild would be worth the money.
be aware you will need a special pulley removal tool to get the pulley off. i borrowed one once from autozone for free.

i just checked autozone and they have w/o res. and w/res for about the same price as rockauto, if you have one local - then no shipping, LIFETIME WARRANTY, and free tool loan.

 

Any chance it's just the belt that got wet? You said it started after a car wash, right?

See what happens when all is dry. If you do need a new pump, you can buy an AGR Performance pump. Higher pressures and higher gpm flow. It makes for easier steering and easier brakes if you have hydroboost.

Good luck with your ride.

 

Thanks for the ideas, I'm gonna go start it this morning and see if its the belt. I doubt it but here's to hoping.
dhvaughan: thanks for the heads up on Autozone. I've got one two miles away. I don't usually like going to them, terrible customer service, at least the one over here.But you can't complain about cheap prices and free tool loaning.