2002 Outback Sedan H6 power steering moaning

[rayandbarb]

I bought a 2002 Outback Sedan in October. In a short amount of time the pressure sensor blew out and I had no power steering. I have since acquired a pump from a salvage yard and put it on my car. The car moans loudly when turning from side to side but not with the wheels straight. We had a 90-day warranty on the pump so we returned it and got another one with the same issue. We have tried bleeding the lines but to no avail. We changed the O-rings and some kind of valve in the side of the pump with no success. I convinced my husband to try bleeding it again but no change. This is how we did this. Tell me if you have some other way of doing it. We jacked the car up and put jack stands under it so the car is level. We then put the proper amount of fluid in the reservoir and proceeded to turn the steering wheel lock to lock several times. Lowered the car to test it since when jacked up the noise goes away. The same problem of moaning continued so jacked it back up again and repeated. In all my husband states he turned the wheel the last time approximately 50 times and there are still bubbles in the reservoir. He maintains that the churning of the fluid in the tank will cause the bubbles and that he doesn't think it is coming from the pump or lines. Help me please! I don't want to buy a new $600 pump just to find out it wasn't the pump.

 

Thanks

[john in KY]

Two pumps and the same symptom suggests to me the pump is not the source of the problem. Don't know what the pressure senor thingee is but since it failed, that suggests the system is experiencing excessive pressure. Try a new belt just for the heck of it and then start suspecting the rack. 

[MilesFox]

Are you removing the fluid each time? If so, you should keep adding it as you steer back and forth to fill it up and bleed the air out.

Edited February 4, 2014 by MilesFox

[rayandbarb]

John, the pump has a "pigtail" that is on the pump and is connected to a wire in the engine compartment. I personally don't know where it goes but have been informed that it is a pressure sensor. The 2.5 L does't have it. I will pass this along to my husband. Miles, We removed the fluid each time we changed the pump. We pulled the schematic from alldatadiy.com for my car but the reservoir is not the same in that it does not have a dipstick but lines on the reservoir. He filled it up to the line it says and he says the fluid level does not drop. Thank you guys for responding. This is the first forum ever where anybody responded to anything at all.

[john in KY]

This may help:  http://allwheeldriveauto.com/why-is-the-power-steering-making-noise-on-my-subaru-outback/

 

Don't buy a power steering pump if yours is making noise for the first ten minutes of the day. Buy an O ring, Part # 3449AE020, from Subaru. Remove the bolt that attaches the fluid line from the reservoir at the pump, twist a little and it pulls right up. If the area is dirty first brush it off with an old tooth brush, to keep the dirt out. Carefully pull the line up, replace the O ring, and push the tube back in. Tighten the bolt. Start the engine, and turn the wheel side to side a few times to bleed any air out of the system. Happy motoring.

 

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/43054-power-steering-noise-2002-outback.html

 

 'there are still bubbles in the reservoir"  suggests  an air leak somewhere. 

Edited February 5, 2014 by john in KY

[MilesFox]

Although the fluid level may not drop, she should still take on more as the engine is running. Once you fill the reservoir, she should still take on a full quart if the lines were dry. I presume you know to use ATF and not conventinal steering fluid. Good luck

[idosubaru]

it is not the pump, Subaru pumps very rarely fail.

 

air is getting into the fluid - via a hose or oring.  i would look into the oring john mentioned above.

 

you bled it correctly, subaru power steering pumps bleed so easily i don't really do anything but turn the wheel lock to lock a few times, very easy. 

 

don't replace that pump!

[rayandbarb]

Thanks guys. Miles, yes, trans fluid.

[jarl]

Any updates? Did you fix the noise on your power steering?

[1 Lucky Texan]

If there is foam/many bubbles then that MUST be addressed.

 

(OK, to be clear, it IS possible to see pehaps one or 2 bubbles every few seconds cause by flow/turbulence from returning fluid)

 

car must be idling. Wheel 'may' need to be turned by a helper while watching the fluid. There may be a whining sound, or, like my WRX, there may only be jerky-feeling steering wheel feedback or other symptom.

 

 

 

There are few places air can get sucked in; the o-ring/o-rings (depending on the model of Outback) on top of the pump. The hose, failure of the clamps on the hose, a crack in the reservoir, a crack in the fitting that goes on top of the pump and maybe some problem inside the pump. I suppose the 'seat' for the o-ring could be scratched if someone wasn't
careful removing the old o-ring. I used a toothpick to prevent gouging
the area where the o-ring must seal. That's it. The rest of the system is under pressure and will leak fluid OUT, not suck air IN.

 

I use the HNBR o-rings. They are kinda green/turqoise colored.

 

 

Something else might be whining. The car will run briefly without accessory belt(s) - that might help locate a problem with A/C or alternator pulley bearings or tensioner bearings etc.

Edited March 18, 2014 by 1 Lucky Texan

[CRAIGH6]

Hi KY and grossgary. Thank you both very much. I had the noise and didn't even have to replace the o ring. I just torqued up the bolt. Sounds normal again and cost nothing. Cheers.