My power steering pump is making a whining sound. At least I think it's the power steering pump. Anyway, I'd like to check the fluid but I can't seem to find the dip stick. Help please?

Thanks!

 

Page 020-17 of the Bentley MINI Cooper Service Manual:

The power steering system is permanently filled and does not have a drain. Routinely adding hydraulic fluid is not required unless the system is leaking.

To check power steering fluid level in reservoir:
* Park car on level ground with engine off.
* Unscrew reservoir cap and inspect attached dipstick.
* Level is correct if it is between MIN and MAX marks on dipstick.
* If level is below MIN mark, add fluid to bring level up.
* Hand - tighten cap.



edit: The "dipstick" is attached to the power steering reservoir CAP shown above.
edit part II: CAUTION: The MINI power steering system is filled with Pentosin CHF 11S hydraulic fluid. DO NOT top up with ATF or other types of steering fluid. Mixing hydraulic fluid types will damage the seals in the steering system and cause them to leak. Also from the Bentley MINI Cooper Service Manual.

 

hey hey hey, no using my pics without my permission!

 

Sorry NSRNWC - I was just trying to find where that picture came from. The check is in the mail.

 

It better be.

 

Are you sure it is not the normal whining sound? (high pitched WEEEEEEE...)

 

I think thats the owner making noise as they enjoy the new car!

 

Oh, yes. Place duct tape across mouth and check if sound is still there.

 

Is the whining sound normal? I promise my mouth was duct taped when I heard it. The first couple of times I noticed it, it sounded like a faraway siren. I thought I was getting another ticket!

 

Look. If the people on this board keeps this up, we MAY have to go into a partnership. It's the darn checks I keep sending to Bentley Publications that are hurting.

 

We shined a flashlight in there and it looks bone dry!!

 

what year is the car?

is it hard to turn the wheel?

what was the reading on the dipstick?

 

It's a 2003, it can be hard to turn the wheel, especially when you are turning from a stop, and there was no reading on the dipstick, because there was no liquid in the reservior.

I looked for that type of power steering fluid at Kragen, no luck. I'm calling the BMW dealership tomorrow to see if they carry it. I don't have a MINI dealership close by.

 

your power steering rack is probable leaking. time to take it to the dealer for a power steering rack warranty fix.

the power steering fluid has no other way to leak out besides a faulty rack.

 

Bumbing this back up...

How long does this generally take?

We don't live near a MINI dealership, but we're planning a weekend trip to Vegas in early March. The MINI dealership is near an airport we can fly out of and would like to combine the two. If we drop the car off at 4:00ish on Friday afternoon, would it be done by close of business on Monday?

 

are you sure it isn't your electrohydralic pump...In the owners lounge you can check the Top ten idiosycrases of your new mini..this is #3

here's a link to a pdf!

Top Ten

 

I understand the noise Tuls that you are reffering to. But if he had 0 fluid would it make a worse noise?

 

possibly..I do not recall the sound on the last one I checked that was low...

I did however in the wheel it's self....as the fluid went through the pump you would feel ease of steering then as there was an air pocket it would get hard...and soft again as more fluid came back in...

It was pretty obvious just from driving it was low...

 

My reservoir is leaking, and the whining is more pronounced than it used to be, and much more than other minis around me. My MINI is at the dealership today being looked at for it (and various other issues) so i'll be sure to mention what they said the problem was.

I'd taken it in before and they said nothing was wrong. It was after that i got a leak and even more noise :'(

 

awww that sucks...dont you love it when the stealership blows you off

 

Being the 4th or 5th visit to fix my windows... i'm used to their "fixing" skills.

 

LOL...that sucks

 

The whinning sound is actually normal. It is an electric pump and when sitting still and turning the wheel it will sound pretty loud.

If you have NO fluid at all, it would be VERY, VERY difficult to turn the car (almost dangerously difficult). something seems wrong with your description. Have someone else take a look, preferably somebody familiar with cars. If you haven't seen puddles of fluid under your car and you don't see signs of definite leaks streaked on the undercarriage, it is probably ok.

If you still think there is a problem and you wait till March to get to the dealer, they might stiff you with the bill. They might say you caused additional damage by driving it for extended period w/out fluid. That is kindof like the call from your kid who is driving down the freeway at 80mph telling you the check engine light is on and asking what should they do.....

-azminied

 

Im even more confused now. I am experiencing problems with my power steering to the same effect by my power steering fluid level is fine. It sometimes is extremely dangerous to turn and others it is fine. Again took it to the dealership and they said nothing was wrong. What can I check for now? Pleasse reply with any ideas.

 

Same thing with "Audrey", our CR/W 2004. Today while backing out of a parking stall, it was nearly impossible to turn. Turned the engine off and restarted. Still very stiff, so I pulled back into the stall and called MINI roadside assist. The fluid level was ok on the dip stick. I figured it was the same thing I had happen at 5,900 miles. But then I had a groaning noise and there was NO fluid in the revervoir. MINI replaced the steering rack assembly. Someone else said MINI replaced the PS motor under these same circumstances. I sure don't want my SA to tell me that nothing is wrong, like yours did!

Have you had the problem of hard steering while driving???? It's only happened to me while going VERY slow. As I said, backing up and pulling fwd to a parking stall.

I'll post what I find out.