grantman18

Yesterday I did quite a bit of work on my 2000 sport. I replaced the pads, rotors, cat-back exhaust, and did an oil change and brake bleed.

After about 15 trouble-free miles I started hearing a high-pitched whine from what I think is the engine. It happens at all speeds, and increases with the engine rpm's. It happens in neutral as well. I also started experiencing a low rubbing/squeaking noise during very low speed turns recently. Could the whine and rubbing be signs of the power steering pump dying? Anyone else have the same symptoms?

ShowMe Cherokee

Not sure what your whine is... Belt slipping? Check your tensioner. Could be one of your pulley bearings as well.

I would suspect the rubbing/squeaking noise when you turn to be a wheel bearing or axle u-joint beginning to go out on you. Jack up the front and see if there is any play when you grab and wiggle the wheels.

Greg

BadThad

Oddly enough, check your battery cells. I had a similar problem and it turned out to be the alternator over-working. Even though my battery checked out OK, a couple cells were low. I topped off all the cells with distilled water and the whine went away.

grantman18

Thanks a lot for the replies. When it dries up I'm going to head outside and take a look at the belt w/ a stethoscope and see if I can track down the noise.

I was thinking the low noise while turning could be the wheel bearings as well, but I hear the noise if I turn the wheel while stopped, so I thought that might rule it out.

Gee oh Dee

Check power steering fluid level.

grantman18

Checked the fluid and it's pretty low, and I noticed that when I turn the wheel to the extremes, the black rubber hose starts weeping fluid. Hopefully I just need to replace that hose and I can kill two birds with one stone

grantman18

Changing this hose is easier said than done, as evident by the number of threads about it on other forums. Anyone have some words of advice for getting the replacement hose threaded into the lower connection?

I had to stop the install tonight because of rain and lack of sunlight, but I was having a really hard time getting the bottom fitting started by hand. I'm hesitant to put a wrench on it until it is set because I don't want to damage the threads, but I just can't get it started. Any words of wisdom?