The other day the wife told me her car was making noise. Got in and sounded like power steering pump whine, but there was also a sputtering sound like a tire rubbing a plastic fender. We changed out the PS pump and it was quiet all the way home. Today the sputtering noise is back in a HUGE way. PS pump is full of fluid and no leaks anywhere. Sound comes when the steering wheel is turned from side to side and it's LOUD. Then it quits entirely. When it makes the noise, the wheel jumps [feedback is also felt].

It's a 2004 V6 auto with 134k on the clock....anyone else ever have this problem? What was it?

 

Ok...guess no one has ever had a rack and pinion go out. We replaced the whole assembly and it cured the noise problem!