There are many things that could be the culprit: alternator, drive belt, idler pulley, water pump, power steering pump, timing chain, etc.

In my case, on my '95 SE 5speed, it was the power steering pump. Turns out the shop that serviced my car last time neglected to change my power steering fluid. So it was really fried and dirty. That affected the power steering pump, causing it to produce a subtle whining "turbo-like" noise when the engine revs above 1.5k RPM.

Well, the full service steering fluid flush 'n refill reduced the noise by about 50%. Low enough that anyone unfamiliar with the car wouldn't even notice it. I'm told the pump is working properly and should be fine for another 60k miles, as long as I replace the power steering fluid regularly. PS pump replacement is likely $300+ in labor.

Incidentally, this mechanic (who saved me big $$), said that many less experienced mechanics typically miss this, blaming the noise on the wrong part. I almost had my water pump replaced (which he stated SELDOM go bad on these VQ30DE's... it's usually the seals that decay and cause leaks).

 

how often are you supposed to change the power steering fluid?

 

once a year unless you drive extreme mileages.

 

Oh thanks, that mines I need to get mine changed soon.

 

I've heard anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 depending on your driving conditions. Annual inspection of the fluid is the best bet. Always check your fluid levels (brake, coolant, transmission, power steering) anytime you change your oil, as it doesn't take but a few minutes. Except for manual transmissions (they're a pain to check).

 

Are there any write-ups for changing the power steering fluid yourself?