Hey all,

You’re dealing with someone here that *sadly* isn’t very mechanically inclined. So help me out. I recently bought a used '99 Lightning and the only thing I have noticed is what appears to be noise coming from the steering wheel or steering column when I turn. It is most noticeable when I make slow turns. At first I thought it was just when I turned the wheel but recently I tested it by holding it in position and it continues to make noise. As far as my guess to where it is coming from, you cant hear it standing outside the car or with the windows down so I figure it has to be coming from either inside or close to the inside of the cabin. It almost (but not quite) sounds like the noise you get when you hold the wheel at an extreme left or right turn.

Any ideas?

 

It is your power steering pump. It makes that noise, and is quite normal. When I got my 99 almost a couple of years ago, I noticed that immediately after delivery and headed back to the dealship thinking I had a problem.

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Sandy (Spider) Scott
Skydive69@msn.com
Apopka, Florida
99 White Lightning #2091 DOB 6-8-99
Airaid air box (S&B Filter) & Superchip
Kills:
Last 4 generation Mustang GT's (Including Cobra)
Audi S4
Dodge R/T
IROC Z

 

me 3. same noise. works fine.

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Red 99

 

I too had the "noise" on my '00 and didn't like it much, However, inquiries suggested it was "normal". Oddly, I don't have this noise on my '01.

 

Well I am glad to hear I am not flying solo on this. So no remedy for this "issue" ehh? Well I GUESS I can live with it since this is the vehicle that GOD designed for me Thanks for the replies...

 

My 99 had the same noise, my 01 does not. Being somewhat mechanically inclined, I think it is the fluid inside the power steering. It sounds like a venturi where the fluid is experiencing a sudden pressure drop. This causes momentary boiling/cavitation. The 01 must have a smoother path for the fluid.