squealing noise

[Angela Bufton]

Hello. I was hoping someone knows how to fix this problem I've been having.
Almost everytime I turn my steering wheel to full lock there is a loud
squealing noise that continues until the steering wheel straightens again.
It's been doing this for a while, & I thought I had fixed the problem but it
has come back. Also the steering wheel becomes quite hard to turn sometimes. I
am not a club member but I am hoping that someone can help. please!!

Regards
Angela

[carl.halvorsen]

Hi Angela,
I had this problem with a Mazda 626 about 18 months ago. It turned out to be
the power steering drive pully on the power steering pump - it had stripped
the splines so was only catching every now and again providing power off and
on - squeaking and causing the steering wheel to be hard to turn. Worth a
look.

Carl

[Ray]

Angela,
you dont say if your car has power-steering, if it has check the belt tension first
because when a car is on full lock thats when the pump is at its maximum pressure,i
guess you have checked the fluid level also, other than that Carl may have hit the
spot, you could always remove the belt and then drive your car to see if the noise
disappears, the belt only drives the power-steering and air-conditioning pump thus
becoming like a 1.6 NZ car.
we are all assuming its got power/air fitted. lets see the list scratch there heads
if it hasn't.
please keep the list informed of your findings, may help someone else
Ray

Hello. I was hoping someone knows how to fix this problem I've been >having. Almost

everytime I turn my steering wheel to full lock there is >a loud squealing noise
that continues until the steering wheel >straightens again. It's been doing this
for a while, & I thought I had >fixed the problem but it has come back. Also the
steering wheel becomes >quite hard to turn sometimes. I am not a club member but
I am hoping >that someone can help. please!!
[...]

[Gary Morrison]

Angela,

First guess is a slipping power steer belt. This may need replacing but more
than likely just needs re-tensioning. Your Mazda service person should be able
to do this for you in about 5 minutes, its very easy.

Gary

[Angela Bufton]

Thank you for your responses. I appreciate it. My 1990 Eunos Roadster
certainly has power steering and A\C. The squealing can be embarrasing so I
try not to use full lock if I can help it -although that's not always easy (I
like to take advantage of the tight turning circle!). When it first started to
squeal I had my father tighten the power steering pulley and it seemed to have
quitened it alot, but then the noise came back. My dad also said it could be
an atmospheric problem aswell as it seems to squeal more when it's dry than
when it's damp. The last time I checked the belt it seemed to be in good
condition so I don't think it's worn. Unfortunately I don't have an
enthusiasts manual so I can't check up on things . Luckily we have an MX5
list. Anyway I will certainly keep you posted and thanks again.

Kind Regards
Angela