ps fluid appears dark

[npfd]

Hey,

So the last few months I've noticed a squealing noise on startup of the car. I thought it was something minor but I read on the internet that it could be the Power steering pump. While taking slow turns in the car either left or right sometimes I noticed high pitch squeals, almost like tire squeals.

I got concerned and decided to do the turkey baster method of removing fluid from the reservoir. So far I've done this 4 times and wonder if its enough. One thing I do notice that if I pool up the fluid in a bottle cap, it appears clearish at first then becomes brown. Is this normal? I know the fresh fluid I put it in clear. So far we never changed this fluid before and we got the 97 CS second hand.

 

Thanks for any ideas.

[cutty]

PS Fluid brakes down over time just like oil does. So it should be nice and clear.

[npfd]

Ya it seems like it. But the problem I've been having lately is on colder days on start up I hear a squeaking noise which goes away. And at times when taking slow turns I hear the PS pump squeal at random times.

We took out the AC pipes from the Compressor to another piece, as the freon leaked out years ago, I'm wondering could the compressor ever start squeaking on start up or its the PS pump?

 

Thanks

[Schurkey]

I got concerned and decided to do the turkey baster method of removing fluid from the reservoir.

Massive waste of time. Pop the return hose off the reservoir, plug the nipple on the reservoir quickly to reduce fluid spill (perhaps suck it out with the baster first). Connect the return hose to a piece of steel or copper tubing long enough to route it over the fender and into a drain pan.

 

Open a couple of cans of PS fluid. Have a helper start the engine while you dump fresh fluid into the reservoir. When the fluid coming out the "drain tube" is fresh looking, have the helper shut off the engine. Carefully and quickly re-connect the return hose to the reservoir to minimize fluid loss. Top off the fluid, install the PS reservoir cap, wipe up some spilled fluid, have a beer--you're done.

 

It's been my experience that if the vehicle is old enough to need fresh fluid, it probably needs the clamps on the return hoses tightened--or--the return hoses should be replaced. The hoses get crushed under the clamps, eventually the hose pops off the tubing it's clamped to. More likely in cold weather, while engine is still cold, and taking a sharp corner.

 

 

We took out the AC pipes from the Compressor to another piece, as the freon leaked out years ago, I'm wondering could the compressor ever start squeaking on start up or its the PS pump?

Compressor bearing could be going bad; typically they'd be noisy ALL the time--or the belt would break.