Power steering noise

pankaj09 · 19th April 2005, 22:02

hi Team,
for the past few days my indigo is making some kind of noise, i believe its from the power steering system.
this noise is mostly when i am turning the steering to the right, its like a screaching sound.
i am going to the service center on saturday before that any suggestions would be good.
checked the fluid level and its ok.

thanks
pankaj.t

Rudra Sen · 19th April 2005, 22:19

When exactly do you get this noise? If it's on the full lock right or left and you're at a very quiet place like a basement..the noise is normal. If you're in the thick of action and still get the noise above that..do exactly as you have planned.

drifter · 20th April 2005, 00:01

I remember this...even my 2002 petrol indica had this noise especially when the steering was turned to full lock. Its like a hum...it is the power steering. I thought this problem was taken care of on the indigo...but i have seen some indigos make the same noise. But the same noise was missing on a 2004 indica petrol lxi. Is your indigo a petrol? And which year model is it?
If its the noise that im talking about then its perfectly normal....power steering pumps on indicas and to some extent on the indigos make this noise.

Drifter

pankaj09 · 20th April 2005, 01:30

hi
mine's a indigo lx, done 8000kms.

Rudra,
yes the noise is more in a basement, cant hear it while driving in the open.
when i had given the car for 5k first service, the supervisor said some power steering alignment has to be done.
now 3k later that alignment it gone.

will explain this to them on saturday

thanks
pankaj

Rehaan · 20th April 2005, 05:11

Hey Pankaj,

It might be that when you are turning the wheel the extra load on the PS pump is causing the belt to slip a bit making that noise.
I guess belt alignment would be you best bet, however, these problems to have the tendency to reoccur.

cya
R

Mpower · 20th April 2005, 05:59

Screeching noise means belt is slipping. Having owned a V1, I'm really familiar with that noise. Get the belt tightened.

Harrie · 20th April 2005, 09:29

I remember reading in my GTX's manual that i should not leave the car with the steering fully turned. It said some seal or something will get damaged and there will be a whining noise. So maybe try not parking your car with the steering wheel fully turned.

This power steering noise has always been present in the tata vehicles. I first faced it in the TATA estate. It comes only when the steering is fully turned. I got my belt aligned and tightened quite a few times but it was sort of recurring. Finally i learnt to live with that noise after the dealer promised me that its not harmful in any way(???).

But sometimes there is slight "kreeeeeeech" noise that comes along with this humming noise. Usually in my car that comes when there is a leak in the power steering oil and the oil level is down.

zaphod · 20th April 2005, 22:39

It's happened a couple of times in my folks adventure - the power steering reservoir was mysteriously empty - with no sign of leakages (and it came back from a service like that as well - thanks fiat - so you guys dont even bother liftiing the hood of the car)

If it's the same case just get a bottle of Castrol TQ (around Rs 110) and fill up the power steeing fluid reservoir.

zaphod

Stratos · 20th April 2005, 22:49

Just see if anypart of your wheel is touching the internal surface of the fender. I myself own an Indigo. There used to be some noise (Dhakk) from the steering column when the car went through a pothole but on checking it came that some nut had become loose in the column which after tightening, the noise went away!

normally_crazy · 20th April 2005, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harrie

I remember reading in my GTX's manual that i should not leave the car with the steering fully turned. It said some seal or something will get damaged and there will be a whining noise. So maybe try not parking your car with the steering wheel fully turned.

yup thats spot on harrie. never leave your PS car wheels fully turned when parked..it puts a lot of load on the pipes carrying the PS fluid that could lead to bursts or leakage of the pipes ..thats my understanding.

cheers

zulfikar · 21st April 2005, 08:10

check if ur car is leaking any oil...
check the level of oil power steering...
once my Tata Sierra there was giving a sound when i use to turn the steering...
when i got it checked, the pipe for the power steering oil had become very soft and was leaking few drops...
after i changed that pipe its was fine...
well now i sold that car...thank god...ha ha ha

tsk1979 · 21st April 2005, 10:12

The tata guys kept on adjusting the AC belt and Alternator belt for two hours till an expirienced mechanic came and told them to tighten the power steering bolts. Simple fix, took 5minutes after 2 hours of wasted effort. You can tell them to fix the power steering system bolts

Deeps · 24th April 2005, 00:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Screeching noise means belt is slipping. Having owned a V1, I'm really familiar with that noise. Get the belt tightened.

How much does this job cost and how much time does it take? Is it labour intensive like changing the timing belt? And is it true what Harrie was told that its fine to ignore the noise?

Mpower · 24th April 2005, 01:40

Tightening the belt is a really simple job and any mechanic should be able to do it. As TSK mentioned, apparently there are 4 bolts holding the PS pump. Loosen them, push the pulleys away from each other (so that the belt is tight) and then tighten the bolts.

tsk1979 · 24th April 2005, 19:09

Free of cost as i told him i will get 950Rs Engine decarb at the next service

Jokes apart its a simple job and took 5 minutes. Nothing to do with belt. Just one of the screws of power steering assembly. On full turn it tends to bend the Belt

19th April 2005, 22:02	#1
pankaj09 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 31 Thanked: 8 Times	Power steering noise hi Team, for the past few days my indigo is making some kind of noise, i believe its from the power steering system. this noise is mostly when i am turning the steering to the right, its like a screaching sound. i am going to the service center on saturday before that any suggestions would be good. checked the fluid level and its ok. thanks pankaj.t
	() Thanks

19th April 2005, 22:19	#2
Rudra Sen Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,657 Thanked: 6,622 Times View My Garage	When exactly do you get this noise? If it's on the full lock right or left and you're at a very quiet place like a basement..the noise is normal. If you're in the thick of action and still get the noise above that..do exactly as you have planned.
	() Thanks

20th April 2005, 00:01	#3
drifter Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,488 Thanked: 75 Times View My Garage	I remember this...even my 2002 petrol indica had this noise especially when the steering was turned to full lock. Its like a hum...it is the power steering. I thought this problem was taken care of on the indigo...but i have seen some indigos make the same noise. But the same noise was missing on a 2004 indica petrol lxi. Is your indigo a petrol? And which year model is it? If its the noise that im talking about then its perfectly normal....power steering pumps on indicas and to some extent on the indigos make this noise. Drifter
	() Thanks

20th April 2005, 01:30	#4
pankaj09 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 31 Thanked: 8 Times	hi mine's a indigo lx, done 8000kms. Rudra, yes the noise is more in a basement, cant hear it while driving in the open. when i had given the car for 5k first service, the supervisor said some power steering alignment has to be done. now 3k later that alignment it gone. will explain this to them on saturday thanks pankaj
	() Thanks

20th April 2005, 05:11	#5
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,287 Thanked: 35,260 Times	Hey Pankaj, It might be that when you are turning the wheel the extra load on the PS pump is causing the belt to slip a bit making that noise. I guess belt alignment would be you best bet, however, these problems to have the tendency to reoccur. cya R
	() Thanks

20th April 2005, 05:59	#6
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,732 Times View My Garage	Screeching noise means belt is slipping. Having owned a V1, I'm really familiar with that noise. Get the belt tightened.
	() Thanks

20th April 2005, 09:29	#7
Harrie BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: KA 03, KL 12, TN 38 Posts: 701 Thanked: 36 Times View My Garage	I remember reading in my GTX's manual that i should not leave the car with the steering fully turned. It said some seal or something will get damaged and there will be a whining noise. So maybe try not parking your car with the steering wheel fully turned. This power steering noise has always been present in the tata vehicles. I first faced it in the TATA estate. It comes only when the steering is fully turned. I got my belt aligned and tightened quite a few times but it was sort of recurring. Finally i learnt to live with that noise after the dealer promised me that its not harmful in any way(???). But sometimes there is slight "kreeeeeeech" noise that comes along with this humming noise. Usually in my car that comes when there is a leak in the power steering oil and the oil level is down. Last edited by Harrie : 20th April 2005 at 09:30.
	() Thanks

20th April 2005, 22:39	#8
zaphod BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NO IDeA/Madurai Posts: 236 Thanked: 4 Times	It's happened a couple of times in my folks adventure - the power steering reservoir was mysteriously empty - with no sign of leakages (and it came back from a service like that as well - thanks fiat - so you guys dont even bother liftiing the hood of the car) If it's the same case just get a bottle of Castrol TQ (around Rs 110) and fill up the power steeing fluid reservoir. zaphod
	() Thanks

20th April 2005, 22:49	#9
Stratos Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,620 Thanked: 1,598 Times View My Garage	Just see if anypart of your wheel is touching the internal surface of the fender. I myself own an Indigo. There used to be some noise (Dhakk) from the steering column when the car went through a pothole but on checking it came that some nut had become loose in the column which after tightening, the noise went away!
	() Thanks

21st April 2005, 08:10	#11
zulfikar BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 532 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	check if ur car is leaking any oil... check the level of oil power steering... once my Tata Sierra there was giving a sound when i use to turn the steering... when i got it checked, the pipe for the power steering oil had become very soft and was leaking few drops... after i changed that pipe its was fine... well now i sold that car...thank god...ha ha ha
	() Thanks

21st April 2005, 10:12	#12
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,725 Thanked: 23,053 Times View My Garage	Got this fixed yesterday!! The tata guys kept on adjusting the AC belt and Alternator belt for two hours till an expirienced mechanic came and told them to tighten the power steering bolts. Simple fix, took 5minutes after 2 hours of wasted effort. You can tell them to fix the power steering system bolts
	() Thanks

24th April 2005, 01:40	#14
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,732 Times View My Garage	Tightening the belt is a really simple job and any mechanic should be able to do it. As TSK mentioned, apparently there are 4 bolts holding the PS pump. Loosen them, push the pulleys away from each other (so that the belt is tight) and then tighten the bolts.
	() Thanks

24th April 2005, 19:09	#15
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,725 Thanked: 23,053 Times View My Garage	Free of cost as i told him i will get 950Rs Engine decarb at the next service Jokes apart its a simple job and took 5 minutes. Nothing to do with belt. Just one of the screws of power steering assembly. On full turn it tends to bend the Belt
	() Thanks