2008 accord automatic 4 cyl. As soon as car is started, you hear a loud whining noise. I am confident it comes from the steering. Gets a bit better after driving a while and at higher speeds but still present. Louder when steering. Belt tension is fine. Fluid level holding steady. Tried replacing O ring at power steering pump inlet - no change. Believe I have failed pump or rack seal. No visible leak at rack, though intermediate shaft is rusted. Am I good to just replace the pump or should I be looking elsewhere? Any and all advice appreciated!

 

Remove the belt and see if the noise goes away. That's the first step

 

I have the same whining noise! Very irritating in low rpm. Even i can hear that whinig noise when i am sitting in the car (engine in idile rpm), with radio switched on (volume=6-7) ! No matter if the engine is cold or hot. First I thought it is a pulley. I removed the belt and start the engine without belt, just for the test. But unfortunately no change in the whinig noise . I am still wondering what can make that whine inside the engine?! I think it comes from somewhere down where is the chain... but no idea what can be ... I will be happy if someone help us ! Thanks in advance.

 

I was told by my Honda shop that it is a combination of the harmonic balancer and the oil pump. The mechanic said it was normal on these engines. I have a 2011 Accord EX-L with the 190 HP 2.4L engine.

 

My is Accord 2008 EX-L K24Z3 too. I am planing to hear how sounds another K24Z3 (i have a friend here with the same engine, who told me that there is no such a whining noise in his car) and then will decide if it is "normal for this engines" or not !

 

I have a 09 Accord Coupe V6. The noise I thought was the Power Steering pump turned out to be the Drive Belt Tensioner assembly...

 

yeah first thing is to isolate the noise by removing the power steering belt. you probably have a bad ball bearing in the power steering pump. I have a tutorial on ho to rebuild it in the odyclub forum using a 8" hand clamp. if your pump is expensive I'd ask someone to replace the bearing for you, if not and it's cheap replace with a rebuilt. but first see if removing belt isolates it. also check belt with it installed and running, belt could be slipping. actually do that first, probably whining slipping belt

 

Did you ever figure out the problem?