Hi all -

Yesterday I got into my 2002 Bonneville SSEi, started it up, waited 2 minutes as usual, and backed out of the driveway...

However, when I started to turn the wheel it was VERY hard to turn - extremely hard as a matter of fact - and would make a loud whining noise while turning the wheel.

I immediately drove the car to the nearest place I could - which happened to be a Valvoline quick oil change place a few blocks away.

They said that my power steering fluid was low and added new power steering fluid.

Upon leaving the steering was pretty much like normal again - but it was still making a whining noise.

Well, today, the day after, I went out to the car and the steering was, at first, hard to do again, but after a minute it became easy as normal - but it is still making the whining noise - although not as loud - but it is still there.

Help!

If power steering fluid was low you have a leak somewhere.
Look at where all the lines connect to the pump, and around the rack & under pulley and see if you can find out where it is leaking from and make repairs.
Air in the system can cause noisy power steering as well as worn pump bearings.
To bleed the air, both front wheels have to be off the ground with engine running, and slowly turn steering wheel from full left to full right, back and forth a few times.

The wheels have to be off the ground...?

They don't have to be off the ground,,,,but it would be easier.....because you should do it without the engine running....go stop to stop(full left to full right) 10X'*......now look at level should at least be at the cold mark on the dip stick cap.....If the fluid has bubbles or a foamy look, you have a leak and this wilcbl cause the pump to cavitate and make the noise....

Crap... there was foam...

How does a car that just turned 80,000 miles and has been VERY well taken care of - get a leak...?

Someone said put some power steering stop leak in it?

IMHO Those bottle fixes are something to avoid.
You want clean flowing fluid, without contamination.
I dont want to know what happens if that stuff gunks up lines into rack.
Find the leak and make repairs is the best solution.

Yes, I agree...

I just went out to my car...

There is no more whining noise - but the steering is very, very hard...

Is my bad feeling about this right...?

When 3800 P/* start to whine or imitate the supercharger, they are on their way out. Unless its because you are losing fluid. In which case, the whining is because of fluid loss. Get it to a shop that can put it on a rack and do a better inspection. And above all. AVOID those quick oil change places.

Let me make a correction - it only whined (before) when turning the steering wheel - if that matters....

Is it a bad thing that it no longer whines - and that my steering is very, very hard now...?

Or could it be...?