Hello, I recently had my power steering pump replaced because my old one was old and knackered. 

The steering itself is alright and I have no problems turning the wheel. 

However, when I accelerate or the revs go about the 3k rpm mark, the pump starts whining all the way up too redline but stops under 3k rpm. It also groans when turning the steering while stationary and sounds a bit like a hissing sound at idle coming from the pump area. 

Im not losing any fluid that I know of and everything seems to be alright other than the noise when accelerating and the pump noise when turning the wheel while stationary. 

Any ideas? 

Cheers

Have you checked the fluid level ?

3 minutes ago, Ells said:

Have you checked the fluid level ?

The fluid level is bang on maximum. I have tried bleeding the system but don't know if there is still loads of air trapped. 

9 hours ago, Arkhangelsk1989 said:

Hello, I recently had my power steering pump replaced because my old one was old and knackered. 

The steering itself is alright and I have no problems turning the wheel. 

However, when I accelerate or the revs go about the 3k rpm mark, the pump starts whining all the way up too redline but stops under 3k rpm. It also groans when turning the steering while stationary and sounds a bit like a hissing sound at idle coming from the pump area. 

Im not losing any fluid that I know of and everything seems to be alright other than the noise when accelerating and the pump noise when turning the wheel while stationary. 

Any ideas? 

Cheers

Was your power steering pump new or second hand? sounds like you got dodge pump and rack - 13 year old car would of replaced both.

1 hour ago, st line x 140 driver said:

Was your power steering pump new or second hand? sounds like you got dodge pump and rack - 13 year old car would of replaced both.

The pump is new and the rack is working with no problems. Could there just be loads of air trapped still? 

Surely if it was the rack, the steering would be awful rather than just making a noise? 

Cheers for the reply

New aftermarket presumably?  

7 minutes ago, Arkhangelsk1989 said:

The pump is new and the rack is working with no problems. Could there just be loads of air trapped still? 

Surely if it was the rack, the steering would be awful rather than just making a noise? 

Cheers for the reply

Seals perished in rack/worn rack. How many miles car done. Had same problem in another make of car.

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

New aftermarket presumably?  

It's a delco remy pump 

5 minutes ago, st line x 140 driver said:

Seals perished in rack/worn rack. How many miles car done. Had same problem in another make of car.

Car has done 52k. Its only done the noise since the new pump is on so surely if it was the rack it would have been doing it before aswell? 

Just now, Arkhangelsk1989 said:

It's a delco remy pump 

Aftermarket stuff just isn't made the same standard as OE stuff.  As long as the steering works fine I'd just ignore the noise tbh.  

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Aftermarket stuff just isn't made the same standard as OE stuff.  As long as the steering works fine I'd just ignore the noise tbh.  

Yeah, the steering seems to be absolutely fine other than the noise. Someone has suggested changing the Teflon seal on the union to the pump so I will do that and see if that helps. Just find it strange how it does it over a certain rpm. 

1 minute ago, Arkhangelsk1989 said:

Yeah, the steering seems to be absolutely fine other than the noise. Someone has suggested changing the Teflon seal on the union to the pump so I will do that and see if that helps. Just find it strange how it does it over a certain rpm. 

You can't unbolt the union now if it's the one I'm thinking of.  They're single use and push fit on these, have to replace the whole pipe when the pump is changed.

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

You can't unbolt the union now if it's the one I'm thinking of.  They're single use and push fit on these, have to replace the whole pipe when the pump is changed.

It's the one that goes from the pump too the rack and is an 18mm spanner size. It just looks like a normal union like you would get with a brake pipe but has a white Teflon seal at the top of the threads. 

If I had an air leak would I see air/foam in the fluid. There is no foaming or anything so could there just be a trapped air pocket that needs properly bleeding? 

6 minutes ago, Arkhangelsk1989 said:

It's the one that goes from the pump too the rack and is an 18mm spanner size. It just looks like a normal union like you would get with a brake pipe but has a white Teflon seal at the top of the threads. 

If I had an air leak would I see air/foam in the fluid. There is no foaming or anything so could there just be a trapped air pocket that needs properly bleeding? 

Yeah, it looks like that but it's isn't what it seems.  The nut has to be screwed in first and the the pipe is pushed into it if it's the same as the Mk2 Focus with that engine.  Watch the beginning of this video.  

FORD FOCUS MK2 POWER STEERING PUMP - YouTube

As it's specifically over a certain RPM I honestly think it's just a cheap design of pump fins that make more noise as they get faster.

1 minute ago, TomsFocus said:

Yeah, it looks like that but it's isn't what it seems.  The nut has to be screwed in first and the the pipe is pushed into it if it's the same as the Mk2 Focus with that engine.  Watch the beginning of this video.  

FORD FOCUS MK2 POWER STEERING PUMP - YouTube

As it's specifically over a certain RPM I honestly think it's just a cheap design of pump fins that make more noise as they get faster.

Ford 🤯. I'm not having any leaks as far as fluid goes. The whine is definitely audible over 3k rpm. Can't really hear any noise under 3k rpm. There is some groaning when turning the wheel when stationary but that seems normal as it does on most fiestas for some strange reason. 

4 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Yeah, it looks like that but it's isn't what it seems.  The nut has to be screwed in first and the the pipe is pushed into it if it's the same as the Mk2 Focus with that engine.  Watch the beginning of this video.  

FORD FOCUS MK2 POWER STEERING PUMP - YouTube

As it's specifically over a certain RPM I honestly think it's just a cheap design of pump fins that make more noise as they get faster.

Could I put an additive into the fluid too quieten it down? I can live with the noise as I have an exhaust so that drowns most of it out but I don't want it to be anything serious that could cause damage too other parts aswell 

2 minutes ago, Arkhangelsk1989 said:

Ford 🤯. I'm not having any leaks as far as fluid goes. The whine is definitely audible over 3k rpm. Can't really hear any noise under 3k rpm. There is some groaning when turning the wheel when stationary but that seems normal as it does on most fiestas for some strange reason. 

I'm usually the one groaning while dry steering on a Fiesta...too used to electric PAS pumps now myself!   

Yeah, you can add some PAS conditioner which might quieten it down.

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I'm usually the one groaning while dry steering on a Fiesta...too used to electric PAS pumps now myself!   

Yeah, you can add some PAS conditioner which might quieten it down.

Yeah, I have only ever had hydraulic pumps so a bit of noise is expected but I thought because the pump is new it shouldn't be making any noise but like you said it is aftermarket. 

I can't see any leaks or anything and the garage that did it are really good and they checked it all over and even said that a genuine pump would be quieter. I just hear a noise and think something is going too blow up. 

1 minute ago, Arkhangelsk1989 said:

I just hear a noise and think something is going too blow up. 

You're definitely not alone with that!  

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

You're definitely not alone with that!  

It's not a good thing though. Especially for my bank account 🤣

1 minute ago, Arkhangelsk1989 said:

It's not a good thing though. Especially for my bank account 🤣

With my current car I made a conscious choice not to spend ANY money on it unless something did actually break that I could be 100% sure of. 

I've now owned it 2.5 years and only replaced a wiper blade (which I broke by knocking the wipers on in frost lol) and a punctured tyre...  Do I constantly worry about the DMF and the DPF and the EGR and every little noise or smell?  Absolutely!  But at least it isn't costing me tonnes in repairs.  

11 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

With my current car I made a conscious choice not to spend ANY money on it unless something did actually break that I could be 100% sure of. 

I've now owned it 2.5 years and only replaced a wiper blade (which I broke by knocking the wipers on in frost lol) and a punctured tyre...  Do I constantly worry about the DMF and the DPF and the EGR and every little noise or smell?  Absolutely!  But at least it isn't costing me tonnes in repairs.  

Yeah that's a good idea. The amount of stuff that has been replaced when it didn't need doing is ridiculous. I hate too think how much money I have thrown away. 

Basically a case of if it isn't broken don't fix it. 

Atleast I have breakdown cover so if it does break then I can get home 🤣

Quick update, just noticed that after driving, the fluid seems wavy. Its hard to describe, it doesn't look like bubbly fluid it just looks wavy like water. This is with the engine running and the cap removed. 

There is also a rotating/hissing sound inside the cabin coming from where the pump is. 

Another quick update, after looking around the pump area I noticed a white Teflon seal on top of the subrame, it has been chewed up so I reckon the garage have put the union back in without putting a Teflon seal on it. 

Hello, just an update on this thread. I have fixed the problem and it turns out that aftermarket pumps are just noisy. I replaced it with a 2nd hand genuine Ford pump and the noise is gone. 

Thank you for all of your help 👍🏻