Power steering pump noise

Pete Zaria · Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:42 pm

I have a '99 Lexus ES300 (which is pretty much a Toyota Camry v6 with a nicer interior and suspension) with 70k miles.

It's running a swapped 1MZFE 3.0L V6 DOHC VVT-I engine (same size as original engine but with VVTI and DOHC). Besides that it's not too far from stock: 17" 5-spoke rims, 1" drop springs, Brembo big-brake kit, performance chip, etc... but nothing major.

I just modified my air box tonight. I carefully cut a 2" hole in the bottom of the air box (under the filter, as it should be) and ran a short length (1.5 feet or so max) of 2" flex tubing from this hole in the bottom of the air box to directly behind the drivers-side headlight, next to the stock air intake (just to add more intake volume). I did a nice job on that part, it's airtight and looks/sounds good.

Now when I turn the steering wheel more than about 25-30 degrees either direction, the power steering pump makes a "wuussshhh" noise - the power steering pump just seems to be louder in general than it did before I modified the air box.

I checked all of the hoses and connections near the air box where I was working, and I can't find any loose connections or anything that looks like I may have bumped it.

However, the power steering seems to WORK just fine - no slop in the steering, it doesn't take any more effort than normal to move the wheel, etc...

Can anyone give me any ideas why modifying my air box would make the power steering pump louder, or what I may have accidentally bumped/tweaked?

Thanks a bunch.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

elitesniper · Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:45 pm

i think my dad has the same problem in his bmw 745i but the dealer fixed it all

try going to your local dealer ship for help.

Pete Zaria · Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:48 pm

elitesniper wrote:i think my dad has the same problem in his bmw 745i but the dealer fixed it all try going to your local dealer ship for help.

Thanks for the suggestion and no offense but, I'll never go to a dealership ever again

They charge you an arm and a leg to even replace a lightbulb. Mmmm, 745i's are nice cars though.

I'm trying to locate the source of the problem myself before I have to enlist professional help.

It seems so simple - all I did was modify the air box, so if I did screw something up, I must have just bumped it and knocked something slightly loose or out of alignment. Does anyone have any idea what it could be or where I should look?

Thanks.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

elitesniper · Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:51 pm

oh the only reason we go to the dealer ship is cause we have extended warranty, so everythings free

but if you dont have it, man those places murder your wallet.

bluerussetboy · Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:53 pm

i have a '93 es 300 so it might be a little different. did you do anything to the fan? somewhere i read that the fan is driven by the power steering pump?

Pete Zaria · Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:54 pm

bluerussetboy wrote:i have a '93 es 300 so it might be a little different. did you do anything to the fan? somewhere i read that the fan is driven by the power steering pump?

Nope, didn't do anything to the fans (dual electric fans). They shouldn't have anything to do with the power steering system but I'll check the connections for the fans anyway

The weird thing is, the power steering pump (and hoses) aren't really even near the air box where I was working. There are a few vacuum hoses in that area, but as I said, all of the hoses and connections near the air box seem snug and tight.

Any ideas on why my power steering pump is now louder after modifying the air box a bit, anyone?

Thanks again

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

bluerussetboy · Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:05 am

yea, if your running electric fans it won't have anything to do with the problem.

right now i've got 163K on my '93 and have never had any engine or tranny problems. the tape deck is the only thing that croaked. damn reliable cars

Pete Zaria · Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:49 am

bluerussetboy wrote:yea, if your running electric fans it won't have anything to do with the problem.

right now i've got 163K on my '93 and have never had any engine or tranny problems. the tape deck is the only thing that croaked. damn reliable cars

Indeed they are. Thank Japanese engineering I guess.

In the 40k miles I've owned this car I haven't had to replace much outside of normal and expected maintenance. Starter went out at 65k. Killed a ball joint (drifting....) at around 60k. Besides that, just regular maintenance and upgrades

I like building it up as a sleeper - it doesn't look very fast at all but I can beat most Hondas and little ricers I've gone up against.

But yeah, back to topic, any ideas why modifying my air box would cause the power steering to start making weird noise?

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

Novacastrian · Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:01 am

When you turn the steering wheel do your engine rpm's increase?

Pete Zaria · Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:03 am

Novacastrian wrote:When you turn the steering wheel do you engine rpm's increase?

Very slightly, yes, but it's always done that

I'd say 50-75 rpm, just enough to hear the difference. The tach barely registers the change.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

Novacastrian · Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:09 am

Pete Zaria wrote: Very slightly, yes, but it's always done that I'd say 50-75 rpm, just enough to hear the difference. The tach barely registers the change.
Peace,
Pete Zaria.

My theory is that you have created a "noise maker", no offence to your modifying skills.

As you know a car "eats" a lot of air, suck through a straw and you will hear a noise. The airboxes on cars are a filter as well as a noise reducer- get where i am going?
A lexus is made to high standards, as such noise inside a car is reduced as much as possible, you modifying the box may have increased the noise that the incoming air makes. That's my theory anyway.

Much luck.

Pete Zaria · Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:13 am

Novacastrian wrote:My theory is that you have created a "noise maker", no offence to your modifying skills.

Oh there's no doubt, part of the objective of modifying the airbox was to make things a little louder - as is, I can't really even hear the engine below 3,000 RPM. Lexus'es are quiet.

I know what intake noise sounds like - air rushing in. Not the same as the "whurrr" / "whussss" noise of a power steering pump at work. Yes the intake is louder, but it seems to me that the power steering system is also more noisy, and I can't figure out why.

Thanks for the input, any other ideas?

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

Novacastrian · Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:20 am

I am all out of ideas, i will continue to ponder

Pete Zaria · Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:27 am

I'm beginning to wonder if it's completely coincidental that the power steering issue started at the same time I modified the air box.

A good friend of mine who's in his second year of mechanic school is going to take a look at it for me Sunday, so I'll report back what I find out then.

If anyone has any ideas in the mean time please post or PM me

Peace
Pete Zaria.

Novacastrian · Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:50 am

Pete Zaria wrote:I'm beginning to wonder if it's completely coincidental that the power steering issue started at the same time I modified the air box.
Peace
Pete Zaria.

That was my first thought, however if you do the math (In your head, no calculator needed) it tells me that it *must* be attributed to your modifying.
Murphy's law at work or some such.
What you really need to establish is if said noise is hurting your engine. It may just be a "turn the radio up" kind of thing. You would expect that from an Aussie