Power steering pump
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From: Montana
Power steering pump
my car is making a very horrid sound under the hood and i think its coming from the power steering pump area...it sounds like "Rattle Rattle Rattle" ya know? it only does this when at idle or coasting, it completely stops when the gas is applied. my stepdad says he believes that its the bearings in the power steering pump or somthing? if this is a good possibility, whats the price range on a new pump? we just installed a new water pump and a 180 degree thermostat, hoping the noise was caused from the WP but unfortunately it is not, but hey....atleast i can be rest assured i can go a while before i gotta go through that job again 
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
Bet its the alternator bearings, thats how they sound before they seize. Get a piece of heater hose(5/8 or 3/4") and use it as a stethescope to listen. Or maybe remove the serpintine belt and spin the pulleys on both the alternator and power steering units:
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
P.*. Also check the tensioner pulley for the crunching sound. When my alternator went out it was initially hard to tell where the sound was coming from due to the way metals transfer sound and vibrations . As the Beach Boys sing, some are "Good Vibrations" some are bad. 
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From: Milton, Ontario
Yea, the SC pulley and SC blet tensioner pulley on my 98 both failed at the same time and the pulleys had to be replaced. That made funny noises too, but not like the rattle rattle sound.
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From: Montana
thanks for the ideas guys.
i took the belt off and tried seeing if i couldnt find out what was causing this sound, and the only thing i can think of is the pulley for the power steering....if you pull on it there is some play, which the dealer said is normal if its like an 8th of an inch...but i believe its a bit more than that, and also it doesnt look like it is spinning evenly. so i guess ill replace the PS pump on payday and if that doesnt do the trick, ill just buy an alternator.
i took the belt off and tried seeing if i couldnt find out what was causing this sound, and the only thing i can think of is the pulley for the power steering....if you pull on it there is some play, which the dealer said is normal if its like an 8th of an inch...but i believe its a bit more than that, and also it doesnt look like it is spinning evenly. so i guess ill replace the PS pump on payday and if that doesnt do the trick, ill just buy an alternator.
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From: NJ
Dumb questiojn
My car is making that whining sound which most likely sounds like low power steering fluid. However, I search and searched and I can't FIND the power steering pump. I have a 1996 SSE. I assume it should be found somewhere amonst the belt, but for some reason, it is eluding me.
Joe
Joe
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