2001 Toyota Rav4 power steering whines during

That is symptomatic of a power steering pump problem. Get a length of plastic tube and put one end to your ear and the other end by the steering pump and then by the alternator. A tube stethoscope is great for tracing noises. Mine whined when it was low of fluid, I had a leaking pipe.

Power steering pump. Fluid is either low or the pump is wearing out.

Hi there, check to see if your power steer reservoir is full, if so then your power steer pump has failed, they usually make a noise when low on fluid, that would be the first place I would check, then check for and fluid leak from the reservoir , hope this helps

sounds to me like a faulty power steering pump just one possibility based on description


if it helps please give me thumbs up

I had this same problem and the dealer could not reproduce the noise when I would take it in to get looked at. (during the day when the temperature was warm) So I decided to leave it over night and they test drove it in the morning when the temperature was cold and they heard the noise. It ended up bing the steering rack.

This could be caused by dirty or over-aged power steering fluid, it's not flowing enough when the engine is cold (so the fluid) lack of enough fluid flowing through power steering pump can cause the power steering pump to start whining. Change the fluid and you should be good. Hope it helps and please don't forget to rate the answer if it was helpful, it helps me, thanks!

sheck the power steering pump

if the noise is under the hood, when it is very cold, it could just be power steerig whine, caused by the pressure relief valve cutting in because the fluid is like molasses when real cold. this is normal. if it is inside the car it could be the heater blower motor, just stiff from cold, again normal.

When the pump heats up it will quit working cause the pump on the inside is not pumping fluid to the rack pinion or your racket pinion is going bad. Have you checked the fluid level?

hat u need to do is drive vehicle until you hear this pitch once you hear it turn steering to the right to see if whine disappears if it does you are looking at replacing wheel bearing.