power steering fluid

It says "Dexron", so confirm with the Manual ... if the manual says "Dexron Type II or III then I would get rid of this clear stuff and get some Dexron II or III ... a lot of manufacturers make it (I bought Valvoline myself) ... and one quart is enough to flush out the whole system.

The reason I say this is because people (including myself) were able to stop boot leaks by changing from the clear stuff to the Dexron, so the difference in the fluids evidently relates to how it interacts with the rubber seals ... it seems that on occasion dealerships and auto shops are accidentally putting the wrong fluid in.

I had a similar issue with my Mercedes, for which there are also two fluids ... I think the indy put the wrong one in because my car developed a bad steering shudder, that I was able to eliminate over time by flushing with the correct fluid.

I also had something different but possibly connected, with the 2006 Toyota Matrix that we bought used for the kids' college car ... the PS fluid was also clear on this car when we bought it, but there was a gel like sludge at the bottom of the fluid reservoir ... I had to remove the reservoir completely from the car and it took about an hour to flush the sludge out with cleaners ... then put some fresh Dexron II/III and everything was fine from then on.

It's your car though ... this is only a suggestion ...

In the audio clip, I hear the high whine most of the time, and I also hear a lower whine around 0:53-54. I'm probably more interested in the lower whine as that sounds like bearing noise to me.

you can pinpoint the source of the noise better with one of those auto stethescopes, or just hold a screwdriver against the various components and you may be able to feel the vibration.

As for fluid -- if it's this stuff: I would get it out of there as soon as you can. IMHO that is definitely not Dexron 3.

-- John

Fyi earlier this week I flushed the PS fluid again:

1. I used Valvoline Dex/Merc (Dexron-III) again ... the price went up to $10+tax this time around
2. Using a floor jack against the center engine crossmember I jacked up the car so the front wheels just cleared the ground.
3. To drain the reservoir initially, this time I did not bother using a syringe ... I just pulled the return hose carefully off the reservoir nipple and caught all fluid in a cup. I had a bunch of paper towels set underneath to catch drips. Not much dripping this way.
4. Clear tubing (7/16 OD?) from return hose into a quart sized exit container sitting in the engine bay.
5. As an easy alternative to plugging the reservoir return nipple, instead I attached a piece of clear tubing to the nipple and tilted it upward to raise the tubing above the top of the reservoir to keep the fluid level in the hose.
6. Key in ignition to first detent to release steering lock
7. Filled the reservoir to the top with fresh fluid
8. Turned wheel lock to lock once. That drained the reservoir completely and pumped the fluid through the system and into the exit container
9. Repeated Steps 7-8 a total of three times.
10. Reservoir is drained at this point, and I had about 1/4 bottle of fresh fluid left.
11. Removed clear tubings and reconnected the return hose to the reservoir.
11. Refilled reservoir to proper cold level.
12. Lowered jack, started engine and turned wheels lock to lock. Checked and topped off fluid level.

Interestingly the steering feels a bit firmer after the flush ... it was really easy, almost too easy, before with the old fluid. I think the feel has improved. Maybe the Valvoline fluid breaks down after a few years? Anyway it feels like it has improved a bit.

Sorry, no pics on this one ... I was in a hurry and forgot.

-- John