Clyde has been very whiney lately. Whiney PS on turns, but then after the first turn it remains for the rest of the drive. I think I made a trouble-shooting thread about this a while ago... but I think I have an idea of what it is. After much struggle, I figured out where my PS fluid was, and it looked normal. So my suspicion is the PS pump, since that makes sense to me and I've heard of that being a common replacement in a car'* life. Questions:

1. Does my suspicion make sense (is PS pump the likely culprit)? I feel like if I have fluid, it'* just not getting pumped through the system properly. Why else would it be so whiney?
2. Is it hard to replace?
3. There'* like 10 on Rockauto, some are cheap and some are really expensive. Is it the cheap one?

For a whiney power steering pump on a 99, yes, I'd have the power steering pump replaced.

I think there'* enough difficulty on replacing a power steering pump to warrant letting a shop do it. I know people here had difficulty I believe with air getting in their system, and I think there are also some access issues with some of the bolts.

For mine, the replacement power steering pump was apparently also bad, as I experienced problems with getting *no* assist at times for tight turns from a stop (getting in and out of my garage), -so I took it back and replacing the replacement pump took care of it. I also recall reading another thread where someone'* replacement PS pump was bad, so apparently even the replacements can be hit-or-miss.

For something as critical as steering, I'd have a shop do it.

There are probably members here who have done it who can give better info on the access bolts, I just recall reading threads where people struggled with it.
Good luck!

There are 2 13mm bolts that go through holes in the P/* pump pulley into the block. They can be kinda tricky to get at. Then you need a puller to pull the pulley off the pump. Its not bad if you have the right tools. But, before you go through all that, try a bottle of Lucas Powersteering Stop Leak. My pump use to be REALLY loud. Now, you can no even hear it, even when you turn at a dead stop!.

Hmm, I remember you saying that before too, sounds like a good idea. What'* the best way to get the old fluid outta there? Is there any way to drain it?

There are several threads of people who used a turkey-baster, or a small siphon to remove fluid from their PS pump, to put in new fluid, who had **endless** problems with air in the system. You should definitely read those before proceeding. Just be informed before you guess at it, you don't want to make a mistake with it!

Will do, thanks so much!

I changed out my PS pump not long ago on my 98 SE. It was fairly easy EXCEPT some of my lines were on WAYYYYY too tight, probably due to heating and cooling over and over and over again over time. You could also loan a puller from pretty much any auto parts store.

Basically it'* the lines and 2 bolts and it pulls right out, you can also pull it out from the top of the engine, just wiggle it around, it will fit through. It'* also probably easier to get access to the lines by jacking it up and taking the wheel off. Just pray your lines won't be as much of a bitch as mine

If I have this right, you steering is working OK but you just have the whine. I too had this in my White Bonne when I purchased the car.(sounded like a Ford) I removed some fluid from the pump and instaleed slick 50 power steering formula and the whine went away. That was four years ago. You can also use Lucas if another member has used it and it worked as stated above.

Yep, that'* exactly my problem! I'll look into both of those.

Whatever you do, don't buy a reman unit! I did that on my 98 and all it did for me was to allow me replace it 2X before finding a new one on eBay. The new unit on eBay cost $15 whereas the reman with lifetime warranty cost $85.

Not too difficult to change, bleeding the air entails putting the front end up in the air, starting the engine, and cycling the steering wheel end to end several times. No air in the system and no more whine.