My ls has about 150k miles on it an has been regularly maintained. it could use a fluid refill but in all its good. For the past two days its been whinning pretty loudly. sounds like its coming from the belts or pullys.... Any ideas as to what it can be?

 

Check the overall condition of the belts (frayed edges, ect...), check the tension on the belts as well. An over tightend belt could produce a squeal or whine. Corrosion on the pullys may also produce a sound.

 

someone said it could be a bearing... does that sound like it could be right?

 

Could be, but I would get some belt lube and check the tension of all the belts. If you spray some lube and it goes away, its probably a belt, and that is much cheaper than anything else.

 

ill check it out this second. thanks ill update in a minute or so

 

from what i can tell the belts are in good condition. it may be a little tense but seems normal. Ill try lube. will KY suffice? haha

 

Yea a belt is alot cheaper then a new pully for the bearings, but 95% of the time it is the belt tension or general condition of the belt. Pully bearings do not usualy go out.

 

what kind of lube should be used?

 

Belt dressing from your local autoparts store would suffice. Im not big on useing it but to diagnose a pully noise its not bad.

 

ok ill check it out. Thanks alot

 

No problem, hope you find your problem.

 

Low power steering fluid can cause a whine. Is that the low fluid you are referring to?

If your belts are slipping it would be more of a chirping sound.

 

almost all fluids are low.. so that now can be the source....

 

It depends for the power steering pump though, does it only make the noise when you are turning or does it do it at idle and in a straight line drive. The only way a power steering fluid pump should make a noise straight line or at idle is if the resevoir is extreamly low on fluid.

 

not really ever when turning constantly at idle and straight line.

 

Agreed, typically, low PS fluid will only whine the pump during low speed turns, but if the fluid is very low, it may do it more constantly.

Why not just fill the reservoir (with Honda compatible fluid of course) and, at the very least, rule that out.

 

x2

 

If the belts are in good shape and the tension is good, pull the belts off and spin each pulley individually to see if there is noise

 

the fluid was not as low as i expected. I added a little bit but the noise is still there. It happens mostly when decelorating and at idle. Ive noticed it also happens if i am at idle turning the wheels slowly a quarter turn left and right.....

 

sounds like the PS steering belt. check that out

 

will do. Thank you

 

"Whinning"? That's not a word. Do you mean "whinnying", the noise that a horse makes?