How to tell if wtr pump or pwr steering pump is bad.

I have a whine but can't tell where it's coming from. Fluid was added to the pwr steering pump and the whine is still there. It sounds kindof like a dry bearing sound. The rack bushings were replaced a week ago.

 

Take off your drive belts one at a time and run it for a few seconds each time. If the whine stops after the removal of one then you've found your problem. If all drive belts are removed and you've still got a whine, it's the water pump.

Edit: or the clutch fan bracket. I've heard those can go bad too.

 

Did you put the right power steering fluid in

 

In my experience water pumps will usually be more of a grinding than whining sound and typically start weeping coolant out of the bottom from the seal getting thrashed by the shaft wollowing around.

PS pumps have a propensity to whine when they are going out and it usually gets slightly louder/higher pitched when turning the wheels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD3PTy2B1EI about 45sec you can hear it. The product I have no clue about.

toendanger has the right troubleshooting thought process.

 

do you offroad your truck? the screen on your powersteering pump could be clogged restricting circulation of the fluid.
happens to mine every so often.

 

Yep on the grinding part. Was gonna say that too. In my case it was a grinding/rattling/screaching. And it got progressively worse over time. So it sounds like it may not be the water pump if it's a whine. But you said it's a dry bearing sound so maybe you just couldn't think of a better word besides a whine?.. Anyways, Op you need to do address this asap. If it is the water pump, then you need to get that swapped right away. You won't have much longer before it most likely locks up on you. That's what happened to me. Also the power steering whine SHOULD vary when turning the wheels. That would be the first test to do. In park turn the wheel back and forth to full lock a COUPLE times to see. Usually you don't wanna do this as it puts strain on the system turning the wheels in park like that but, won't hurt to test it a couple times.

 

Clutch fan bracket?

 

Ok. I replaced the PS pump. Same dry bearing noise. I have 398k on the pump so I decided to replace it anyway. I'm thinking water pump but I have no leaks. Maybe the air pump. Water pump, timing belt, etc we replaced about 200k ago. Needs to be done anyway so I'll do all that. Alternator is a month old and took the belt off... same noise. It a metallic high pitch. Put belt dressing on the belts and same noise. It's got to be the water pump. Anymore ideas?

 

Well it's most likely the water pump if it hasn't been done in 200k miles.. supposed to be done somewhere around 80-100k something like that. And I shoulda said clutch fan itself. There's a bearing inside there that can go bad as well. I think the whole bracket itself has to be replaced. I saw a thread sonewheres about it. Can't remember if they replaced the actual bearing or had to get a whole new bracket. But that can be a possibility too.. Can you take a sound clip or vid for us?

Edit: and fwiw, I didn't have any leaks either when mine was squealing.

 

Thanks for the replies folks. Time for w a water pump/timing belt/etc...

 

I have a video but can't figure out how to post it.

 

If it's YouTube, etc, just copy and paste the url in and post. It'll show up as a vid when you refresh.

 

Its on my phone. Looks like an Mp4 isn't supported here. I nought the kit anyway. $325 from Amazon

 

hope it fixes your issue.

i would get it diagnosed by a professional before you throw more money at randomly replacing parts..

 

Ive been having the same noise. Thought it may have been power steering related but the shop I took it to said it was the AC compressor whining. It does it even when the AC is off though, so I think it's really just the bearing.

I haven't had it changed yet though. If that's all it is I may just take the belt off because I don't use the damn AC anyway.

 

Take the belt off and run the truck and see if it goes away to be sure. Might even be the idler pulley in your case. Did the shop really check it out or is that what they said it sounds like?

 

I took it in to diagnose the noise. Thought it may be idler pulley or power steering and let them know. They took off each belt until they figured it out. I have a friend/reputable forum member/vendor on here that works there. Also the best toyota shop in town. I trust their diagnosis.

 

OP, did you ever do the belt removal diagnosis yourself?? I know the water pump and timing belt NEEDS done anyways and you said you ordered it.. But I just wanna make sure you tested it, and if not, you probably should so you can fix it while you're in there doing the other stuff. If it happens to be the ac compressor, and you can afford it, it'd be easier to remove that entirely to replace at the same time as it's kinda a bitch to juggle that thing around doing the water pump and whatnot.

 

Gotcha Just wanted to make sure

 

No worries. Im sure they're correct in the diagnosis, I've just been putting off the repair. The noise is getting pretty awful though so I may get it done soon. Just not ready to cough up the money lol.

OP, check the AC compressor for sure. I thought it could be my water pump or timing belt too but both were changed about 10k miles ago so it's not likely.