strange moaning noise from the steering

[xavier]

Out of the blue my E30 has started to make a moaning noise when I turn the car to the left at low speed soon after start up. This normaly only happens when my wife is in the car(crap joke). The car does have power steering. Any Ideas what the noise might be? It is not present or noticable after the car starts moving over about 5MPH.

[Barton]

low fluid?

[bigwinn]

low fluid?

+1

sorted my whining

[Martinaston]

Lower ball joint or top mount on the strut ?
How large is the wife ?

[eltel]

Make sure the fluid is full and a nice cherry red colour.. Also jack up the offending wheel and check the joints for play.

[Mikey_Boy]

+1

Could be low fluid or knackered fluid. Does the noise disappear when the fluid gets hot?

It could also be a shagged pump...

Cheers,
Mikey_Boy

[xavier]

or shagged wife.
yes the noise does go away when the fluid warms

[Hibsfan1875]

I get the same I turn to full lock.

[eltel]

It should make a noise on full lock, there's a pressure release valve in there to allow fluid back the other way.. Just as long as it is not deafeningly loud

[xavier]

can anyone point me in the direction of a site that tells me how to flush and bleed the power steering fluid?

[Brianmoooore]

Disconnect inlet pipe from pump.
Drain fluid.
Reconnect pipe.
Fill with fluid.
Start and run engine.
Move steering from full lock to full lock a couple of times.
Repeat all the above twice.
Repeat again, but using new crush washers when you reattach the pipe.

[xavier]

thnaks Brian