Hey all, a very strange noise has started in my engine bay. It does not change or go away with any RPMs, or steering wheel position.

It only happens after the engine completely warms up, does it and then goes away and I'm unable to replicate it any other way.

My hope is that it's the power steering fan/pump. I can also see my voltmeter jump around while the noise happens.

Here is a video for sound (clinking is my dog's tags)

 

1. Does the PS pump have fluid in it? And does the PS work when this is happening?

2. Do you get a battery light at any point during driving? That could point to a failing alternator.

3. You'll need to get the car inspected to find the true source of the noise.

4. You can try detensioning the belt momentarily and seeing if the noise goes away, that would indicate a problem in the belt drive, or if detensioned long enough will cause a battery light and loss of PS, so a quick test is best.

 

Sounds like the PS pump low on fluid.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hose-pics.html




Leak at PS, lines, or failed unit.

 

Here's the funny (or not funny) thing. The reservoir is full. But there's an obvious PS fluid leak somewhere. I can see it beneath the reservoir (sourced from I believe the reservoir) but the fluid hasn't moved. I'll check it to be sure it's not clogged though

Ps does still work during this btw.

 

Its has to have fluid moving through it, in the reservoir there is a built in filter. How full is the reservoir ? It looks full and then looks at the stick and its not. Checked on the clog issue, have not heard of this happening much and post back what you find.

 

Reservoir is full, I'm going to pump out the fluid and see what I get.

 

No visible clog. I need to get the clamp off the hose now

 

Going to put it back together and listen to it from under the car. Best German specialist near me can't see it before Monday or Tuesday

 

In the video, are you just sitting there and it's making this noise or are you moving the steering wheel from side to side? I'd suggest when it makes this noise to pop the hood and poke your head above as well as below to determine the source of the noise. It's hard to tell, but I'm not completely convinced it's a p/s whine I'm hearing here... could be wrong.

 

Alright so. That is me at idle, no steering movement. The noise does not change when steering or revving. I put the car on stands today, reconnected the reservoir and filled it up with fresh CHF 11S. Started it up and it made the noise instantly on cold engine. The only thing I messed with was steering fluid, so I'm 99% sure it's the PS pump.

The noise then stopped, and came back about 20 seconds later, I was under car and it was apparent that it was the PS pump.

Now, again. During no time do I lose ANY steering function. And the noise goes away after the car has been warm a little while. It will not come back until the car has cooled completely and then been warmed up again.

I'll be taking it to my local bmw specialist on monday or Tuesday to see if they can think of anything. I really really don't want replace a $800 part just because.

 

And when filling it with new fluid, I started with a 'full' amount on the dipstick turned the wheel a few times, added more, and then started car and repeated. So there isn't a clog like I thought it may have been.

 

Locking it from side to side is a good way to work the air bubbles out of the system. I just recently replaced a p/s line on my car that was in really bad shape/leaking. I'm still getting whine because I got lazy and didn't work all the air out of the system. It's mostly apparent when the vehicle is cold or when I'm making slow tight turns. Anyways, hope they are able to figure out the issue. Be sure to report back with your findings.

 

Ok, final update. It was the power steering. The noise became consistent. It would only go away with steering at full lock. Took it to my mechanic and he diagnosed it as the PS pump throwing a bearing or something. When he took the old pump off there was apparently a LOT of metal shavings in the fluid and rack. He flushed the whole system. New Ps pump and reservoir and hoses. $1k dollars later......

 

Thanks for the update, the power steering is covered by MINI up to a certain year : https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-warranty.html

 

Yeah, mine is out of that. And it had the recall done July of 2013. So part warranty expired like 6 months ago

 

So your recall replacement PS pump already went out after only 2.5 years?

 

Did you contact the MINI dealership, they will be extending the coverage on a recall campaign.

 

I contacted the closest dealership to me (almost 2 hours away). They said there was no longer any open recall or warranty on my vehicle.

And yes RB, the recall pump failed after 2.5 years. I'm a little pissed that my new to me decent deal has now become a terrible deal.

 

What year do you have ? Past 1/2005+ production ? check your vin here : http://www.miniusa.com/content/miniu...rt/recall.html I have this 15V-660
POWER STEERING SYSTEM Recall incomplete, not yet available

 

Yes, I know. Mine is march 2003, and recall was done like I said

 

ok, that must have been the warrantied part then, first one i heard go. They extended to a recall now and i thought everyone regardless of what they had before, would be replaced, it was a extension, then a recall. But the recall was just announced in oct 2015, so how was yours done if it just recalled ?

 

I'm not sure, but I know that a dealership and that website say I have no open recalls, I have an invoice for a replacement Ps pump from July 8th of 2013.

 

huh, yea. That's strange , most people see it unless they have a euro vin or something.