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by Justin Stobb

We have had a lot of Questions from all over the country on this subject so I thought I would provide some information. This issue is typically found on the 2000 to 2004 Subaru Outback and Subaru Legacy. There will be pictures up next week to help illustrate what is going on.

Here is the usual situation someone replaces the belts, or the timing belt or the alternator and almost instantly the power steering pump starts to make noise and the car can be hard to steer. Well here is what happens. The top bolt for the alternator and power steering fan belt shroud is secured to the power steering return line tube/bracket through a rubber grommet in the top of the shroud. If there isn’t enough slack in the shroud when the top bolt is tightened the shroud will pull onto the tube (towards the drivers side) allowing air into the power steering system thus causing the fluid to become aerated. The other end of this shroud is slotted at the alternator pivot bolt. The rubber grommet is there, to give a little instead of pulling the tube under load. Once the tube is pulled it is necessary to reset it in the power steering pump to make sure it isn’t still being pulled in one direction after this the shroud will need to be installed properly ( with slack). From there the aerated fluid must be replaced with fresh fluid and the problem is solved.

I have received over 100 phone calls from people as far away as Jamaica (you know who you are and thanks for the gift card) so I figured someone should post some help as I have received calls from frustrated Technicians and Drivers a like . I had a post on Allexperts.com, that includes our shops phone number and I would say it has been one or two calls a week.

 I am always happy to help out my fellow Technicians who just want to take care of their customers. I also have heard the other end of the spectrum where after the belts were replaced on their Subaru Outback and the noise showed up they have been charged a lot of money to replace parts that did not need to be replaced. Quite a few times a frustrated vehicle owner has sought out help on the Internet and found me.

 To the Automotive Professionals out there, help each other first of all and use the Internet to seek out those who no more about the subject than you do. Also while we are all human and do make mistakes and there is always a lot of pressure to be perfect, at least exhaust all of your resources prior to guessing. If some can find the answer to the problem online then we all can. 

I have personal experience with this issue.  I know Subaru’s so well, and one thing they are not prone for is power steering aeration, with that knowledge,  I was able to  problem solve my way to the fix.  Subaru Owners, if this has or does happen to you. Most likely no one is trying to defraud you; they just haven’t experienced the issue before and are now forced to learn.

Thank you for reading.

Justin Stobb

Your Independent Subaru Specialist

  Here is the fan belt shroud in question.

  This is the upper alternator/ power steering belt  shroud retaining bolt. 

   This is the power steering return line bracket going into the pump.

  Here is the alternator pivot bolt that must be loosened to put the “slack” back into the shroud.

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81 Responses to “Why Is The Power Steering Making Noise on My Subaru Outback?”

1. Dan Hanks Says:
   February 5th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

   I recently had my alternator go out on my 2000 Outback which required a tow to the local repair shop and an alternator replacement. Since the shop had to remove the old alternator I had them replace the serpentine belts at the same time. The shop called me to tell me the repairs had been completed but the power steering pump was making noise and overflowing the reservoir and they were wondering if it had been doing that. I informed them that it was fine before they worked on it. They told me that it may have just gotten some air in the system and it may settle overnight but if it didn’t quit making noise to bring it back and they would replace the power steering pump at around $500.00 Needless to say the noise did not quit, but I was so upset with the repair shop because they had charged me $100.00 more than originally quoted to replace the alternator, (another story entirely) that I will never take a vehicle back to them. So I did some research on the internet and ran across Justin at All Wheel Drive Auto and read a blog he had about the very problem I was experiencing. I called Justin and told him what happened and he told me over the phone how to fix the problem. Basically I adjusted the shroud and the noise quit instantly. The power steering pump is working normally and silently. Thank you Justin not only did you save me a bundle of money, but you are very pleasant and helpful. I have relatives in Washington and I will recommend you to everyone I know. Thanks again, Dan Hanks Boise, ID.

2. Joshua Hufford Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 11:23 pm

   THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! After two weeks of trying to figure out what was causing this noise after having work done at the dealer on my 00 outback, I was one day away from replacing the power steering pump, just had ordered it. I’ve only drove around the block once, but so far the pump sounds PERFECT! THANKS!

3. Lomita Says:
   April 4th, 2008 at 5:42 pm

   Pics?

4. wagner Says:
   June 8th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

   Does this shroud problemn also relate to the 3.0 h6 as well. I am having the same issue with the fluid getting areated and loud whining noise

5. Justin Stobb Says:
   June 9th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

   Hey Wagner,

   The H6 uses an automatic tensioner, so it is different than the H4.

   But you could have a similar problem in regards to air entering the system.

6. Craig Phillips Says:
   June 25th, 2008 at 8:25 pm

   Even with resetting the tube mine leaked air into the tube fitting. The two o-rings on the tube were dry due to the fact the air leaks into the tube and not fluid out. I just greased them up with a little silicon grease and no more groan!!! GREAT JOB

7. Manny Says:
   January 9th, 2009 at 1:58 am

   Would this same problem happen on a 99′ 2.5 RS? and does it always start making the noises almost immediately after getting serviced?

   -Thanks

   ~Manny

   Dublin, CA

8. Justin Stobb Says:
   January 10th, 2009 at 5:18 pm

   On the RS if it has the type of power steering pump in the pictures in this article then yes, but I am thinking the 1999 RS has the reservoir mounted directly on top of the pump. I dont have one here today but if one comes in the next couple of days I will update this post.

   Justin

9. Mike Says:
   February 2nd, 2009 at 12:50 am

   Justin, thanks so much for the article on this. I just replaced my belts and had this problem happen immediately. I am very new to working on car/auto stuff.

   I had two quick questions for you.

   1. When you say to reset the line, are you talking about the insulated line with the tensioner around it as seen in picture 2 of your guide? I looked at mine and it does not appear to have shifted, but I do understand that it takes very little movement for air to get into the system.

   Do I just loosen the tensioner and push the line on further to reset it?

   3. Will I need to replace the fluid, or can I let it sit for a while? Also, what is the most straight forward way to replace the fluid if need be.

   Thanks,

   Mike
   2002 Legacy L Wagon

10. Justin Stobb Says:
    February 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 am

    Hey Mike

    To reset the line, remove the belt shroud, loosen the line retaining bolt, and then re tighten it.

    If the line has shifted in the pump housing it won’t be by much but as you correctly pointed out it won’t take much.

    It is possible if you let the vehicle sit that the fluid may rest and the air can dissipate out of the fluid.

    For a home gamer the best way would be to just drain out the reservoir, put fresh fluid in it and repeat as needed.

    Justin

11. Frank from AZ Says:
    March 7th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    Thank you Justin….I consider myself very fortunate to have found your article! You saved me tons of aggravation and $$$.

    A shop replaced the alternator on my 2001 Outback yesterday. Upon leaving, my power steering immediately starting making noise. The shop owner didn’t know why…..chalked it up to a coincidence. Although I believe in coincidences, something didn’t seem right to me. The internet is great…I did some googling and found Justin’s article.

    I called Justin this morning to ensure I understood how to make the fix (I’m not a car guy). I was very fortunate that he answered since it’s the weekend. After speaking with Justin, I realized I didn’t have a tool that was needed so I brought my car and Justin’s article to the mechanic. I explained the article to the mechanic/owner but he didn’t believe it was possible for air to get into the system. I called Justin back and asked if he would mind explaining this to the mechanic. Justin agreed to but the mechanic backed-off and said he would make the adjustments.

    It took the mechanic about 5 minutes to make the adjustments. Once done, he started the car and turned the wheel….no noise. The mechanic was flawed. The mechanic did acknowledge that the tube must have moved but he didn’t think that air was the issue. He thinks the fluid flow became disrupted. Since the noise stopped, I didn’t push to have him change-out the fluid. I only drove a few miles so far but I’m hopeful the issue doesn’t resurface.

    Justin….thank you again for sharing this article and taking my calls…very unselfish of you. If I ever move to Washington, I would absolutely bring my Subaru to your shop.

    Quick question….I moved from Phoenix to Northern AZ a couple of years ago. When it gets below 30 degrees or so, I often get a fuel smell in and around my car. I did some googling and found this to be a common problem with early 2000 Subarus. Unfortunately, I got mixed ifnormation about what the cause is. Called the local dealer but they were no help. Your thoughts would be appreciated!

    Sincerely,
    Frank from Arizona

12. Justin Stobb Says:
    March 8th, 2009 at 12:58 am

    Thanks for the feedback Frank!

    The stainless steel fuel line clamps expand at a different rate than the rubber fuel lines and end up loose, if you go around with a long phillips screw driver and tighten all of the fuel lines you can find around the intake manifold you should be ok.

    Justin

13. Scott Says:
    March 12th, 2009 at 1:54 am

    Hi Justin

    I have read the above article and it makes sense. However, I ahve an ‘01 Outback with 200k on the clock and recently the power steering has started clunking from 1/2 to full lock, obviously at low speeds. It feels like the system is low in fluid (which it isnt) or air in the system.

    I am planning to bleed the system as it likely hasnt been changed for some time. But I really need to know if there is another likely issue I need to consider (like pump failure or other…?)

    Any suggestions appreciated.

    Cheers Scott

14. michael Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 11:57 pm

    Hi Justin, The 2002 Outback LL Bean H6 100k + miles, power steering pump howled for the first 10 minutes when started from cold,then noise went away, only to repeat next day. The fix for me was the O ring where the line from the reservoir enters the pump. Subaru part # 34439AE020. A ten minute job, the savings,$$$
    Thanks for your site, Michael

15. Jeff Says:
    May 16th, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    Thanks for the assistance. We were on the cusp of replacing the pump on our 2003 Outback Wagon when I read your remedy and within minutes the noise was eliminated.

16. anne lovett Says:
    May 16th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    Thank you! I nearly spent $400.00 for a new pump that the dealership said I needed!!!You are a life saver! Thank you so much for posting this!

17. minsk Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    THANK YOU!!!! After fixing a squeaky, loose belt I over-tightened that pivot bolt and created a terrible whining sound. Saved me $ and time. Thanks again.

18. Bob @ Master auto poway CA Says:
    May 28th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    Thanks for the tip just fixed someone’s problem child also had to replace o-rings wore hard and brittle. Might mention that had no signs of fluid leakage just pulling small amount of air

19. mitch Says:
    May 29th, 2009 at 7:14 pm

    hi there I am a freelance mechanic and i am having trouble getting the air out of the power steering system. what is the best way to do this on a 2001 legacy 2.5? instead of just a noise this is making a slight shutter/shake when turning. it has to be on the ground running in order to do the shake. it is not necessarily at any specific degree of turn. just when it feel likes it. it was in a pretty serious fron end collission and i rebuilt it completely, this is my only problem. the suspension and all ball joints, etc are in good shape. this is why i think air in the steering. i just haven’t really dealt with this before. any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks.

20. Justin Stobb Says:
    June 1st, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    Hey Mitch,

    If there is air in the system the fluid will be aerated it has no choice.

    Justin

21. Ann Says:
    June 20th, 2009 at 2:44 pm

    Thank you! We had just replaced the alternator & belts and immediately had this exact problem with p/s noise. Adjusting the shroud as described completely corrected it. Thanks for making my day!

22. Mark Says:
    July 12th, 2009 at 9:10 pm

    Holy Smokes! Thank you Justin! I just bought a 2000 Outback from my neighbor as it needed head gaskets, water pump, etc. I finished the job and after starting to drive it, noticed the PS pump getting very noisy - worse every day. I put some treatment in it and it was quiet - for about 5 minutes (not air in it!) Decided to Google it in anticipation of replacing ther pump and found your diagnosis. FIXED! You are a true gentleman for posting your solution and hats off to you for figuring this out.

23. Robert Says:
    July 23rd, 2009 at 2:17 am

    I just changed a failing alternator in my 2000 Legacy. Fired the car up, and: “Whoa! My power steering pump is screaming! What the…?” A google search led me here. I reinstalled the belt shroud and changed out the PS fluid, and things are back to normal. Thank you so much for posting this writeup; you saved me some money and heartache.

24. Mark Says:
    July 29th, 2009 at 7:03 pm

    Thank you for posting this information. I had an alternator that was going bad, so I decided to replace it. Imagine my surprise when I fired up my Subie and the power steering pump sounded terrible. I could not for the life of me figure out what was going on! I thought the problem had to be in the belt tension, I mean what else could it be? Now I know. Thanks so much for saving me a lot of trouble!!!!!!

25. Denise Says:
    August 7th, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    I just replaced my battery in my 2000 Subaru Outback within the past year… almost a month ago, my vehicle died after my son stalled the car (instructors permit). It wouldn’t start, make a noise or turn anything on in the car when we tried to turn the key. Needless to say, we haven’t been driving the vehicle since. After a jump start from an extremely nice couple, the car started right up & it’s started up again after parking it (tried to start it a couple days ago & it started right up again).
    Do I have to get the alternator replaced? Or could it be something else?

26. jo Says:
    August 9th, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    If Justin, et.al, could please help. I have a 2006 turbo Legacy wagon. It sounds like I may have the same problem? In the mornings, when I back out of the garage, the steering chatters (can feel it in the steering wheel) and when I turn out (still 5 or 10 mi/hr), it continues to chatter (like rubbing against something and now it is starting to squeal. After that I don’t notice it unless the car has been sitting for another couple of hours. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Dealer wants me to leave it overnight. Thx, jo

27. jo Says:
    August 9th, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    postscript from Jo: the 2006 Legacy wagon has around 11000 miles on it and has been treated gently. thx.j

28. Justin Stobb Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 8:38 pm

    Denise,

    Its probably better have the alternator and the battery tested by someone who knows Subaru local to you

    Justin

29. Justin Stobb Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    Jo,

    Thats actually a different issue and one that is somewhat common on the 06 model, most likely the belt just needs to be adjusted.

    Justin

30. jo Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    Thank you very much, Justin, for your reply. Please excuse my lack of knowledge. Which belt would that be that you are referring to? thx.j

31. Dave Wilcox Says:
    August 14th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

    Thank You. Thank you Thank you. After numerous shops telling me to replace my wearing out pump, your solution worked in a matter of minutes.

32. Lee Myhan Says:
    August 19th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    Justin,
    I am having the same subaru H-4 groaning steering pump problem. I came across your article and uded your method. It worked for a short while and the groaning started going away,then suddenly it started back. I checked the orings in the suction side and one was cracked; it was very brittle. I noticed the o ring was flat on the outside and inside radius. Is is it supposed to be that way?and where do I get new ones?

33. Grayson Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 8:20 pm

    I am thankful i found these posts. I was having the same problems after working on my 03′ Turbo Legacy…got it from the shop with noise and intermittent toughness in the steering, unbelievable how my subaru expert mechanics didn’t know this. The problem was not only the proper sequence of tightening the relevant nuts and bolts(as Justin pointed out - Thanks Justin) but the o-ring seal was worn and done, silicone was used to support this and this failed miserably. I had to get a new o-ring seal and reset the line and bolted up as Justin outlined…as simple as that. Lesson learnt, there’s no more boiling action in my reservoir and after topping up to the right level i feel the difference already - I drove away from the garage feeling like a mechanic(me…lol) in a new car. I know after i flush the system properly(later if required) it should even feel better. I will comment again if and when i do this.

34. Matthew H. Says:
    September 30th, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    Thanks Justin.
    My wife’s 02 legacy was sounding awful (worse when cold) and I was afraid we needed a new power steering pump. I found your article and was able to fix it in about 5 min. I guess I should wait until tomorrow morning to declare it a total success, but when I loosened the bold the bracket shifted a fair amount. Hopefully that does it. Thanks again, you do credit to your profession.

35. Dan Sorochan Says:
    October 2nd, 2009 at 1:50 pm

    My girlfriends 2009 Outback has just started making a noise coming from the front of the engine combined with hard steering. Is it the same problem with 2009’s?

36. Justin Stobb Says:
    October 3rd, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    Dan,

    That would be real uncommon in an 09. I would suggest it really should be looked at soon, it may be as simple as a belt that has stretched.

    Justin

37. Jessika Says:
    October 5th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    THANK YOU Justin!!

    I printed your article and shared it with my mechanic as a possible solution to my power steering problem. He gave it a shot and instantly my car ran smoother and sounded better! Has this been posted in a technician’s bulletin (or something equal)?

    THANK YOU!!

38. Peter White Says:
    October 7th, 2009 at 8:07 am

    My 1996 Impeza WRX began to exhibit horrible power steering pump noise. It was impossible to believe that it was not a mechanical failure as the noise was so bad.
    Simply sucking the old (filthy & aerated) fluid out of the reservoir with a turkey baster and refilling a couple of times was a complete cure.
    My car had been in the shop having the front discs skimmed and pads changed. From another website I learned that Subarus can be prone to sucking air into the system if the steering is exercised without the engine running and that is what seems to have happened to my car.
    Without reading your posting on this issue I would have changed the pump. Many thanks for you advice. Also the state of the fluid was terrible - dark brown and toasted. Regardless of how the system behaves itself in future I will make regular fluid changes.

39. Peter White Says:
    October 7th, 2009 at 8:41 am

    Further to above, here is the link to the opinion that these cars can suck air during maintenance: http://www.boston.com/cars/researchandadvice/2008/10/02/the_car_doctor/
    I don’t think my car would ever have bled out the air by itself, and if it had the fluid would have been very low. While using my turkey-baster, refilling, running the engine, and repeating the whole thing sequence a big airlock seemed to release from the depths of the system. Judging from the amount of trapped air and the sort of noise it had been making, I think the pump would have been seriously damaged if I had continued to run the car.

40. Anthony Della Rossa Says:
    October 17th, 2009 at 1:19 pm

    I have a 2002 Subaru Outback AWD 4cyl. When car sitting in park with engine running power steering is free. When engaged in drive with break on power steering is stiff. If you start to roll steering becomes free again. What causes this problem.

41. Brandon Says:
    October 18th, 2009 at 11:27 pm

    Justin,

    I recently purchased a 2000 Outback with approx 75,000 mile on it. For the first few months, the pump made no noise whatsoever. Now that the cold weather is settling in, I am experiencing problems akin to Jo (above). When I start the car, the power steering squeaks and the steering wheel chatters. It is especially noticeable during K-turns and other parking maneuvers. Once I hit road speeds and the car warms up, I no longer notice the noise and/or chatter. The noise returns once the car has been allowed to cool.

    I’ve loosened the bolts and adjusted the shroud (which seemed fine), but am not sure which bolt to remove to reset the return line bracket(the only “bolt” I see is a torx head screw which does not appear to require adjusting). I’ve emptied the reservoir and filled it with fresh fluid. The noise is still apparent.

    If I have someone sit in the car and turn the wheel while I am under the hood examining things, it appears that the pulley coming out of the power steering pump “sticks” and causes the squeak and shutter. Is this the same problem that you are tackling here, or does this sound like another matter altogether?

42. Matt Says:
    November 2nd, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    I SECOND BRANDON’S ISSUE.

43. Matt Says:
    November 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    Oh and Brandon, the squeaks and chatters got worse over time with my Outback…the belt slowly disintergrated (dust on top of engine). and then the PS Alt Belt failed this weekend.

    Watch those long trips from home!

44. Ryan Says:
    November 5th, 2009 at 7:42 pm

    Hi Justin,

    I have a 2002 Outback LL Bean H6 100k + miles. I have read all of the prior posts regarding the all too familiar whine with the power steering. Mine had been moderately loud in the morning, but quieted down after the car warmed-up. However, the sound started becoming more noticable and I decided to have a trusted shop try and replace the pump with an lkq part, thinking the pump was on its last leg. Now the whine is more like a scream when trying to turn the wheel. I have tried letting the car cool, rotating the wheel 30-40 times each way to release air, checked all the lines, rings, connection points etc. The resevoir is full and bubbles when the car is running. The shop said to drive it around for a few days to try and get the air out of the lines and if nothing works they will put-in my old pump that wasn’t making as much noise. I am baffled at this point and dreading replacing the pump oem due to cost. Any last suggestions? Thanks!

    Ryan - Texas

45. Justin Stobb Says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 12:19 am

    Brandon,

    Most likely the belt is slipping.

    Justin

46. Justin Stobb Says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 12:25 am

    Ryan,

    The H6 found in the LLBean, doesn’t have the same issues as the 2.5l in this article.

    The H6 has a tendency to have the serpentine belt idler and tensioner make noise, we do quite a few of these. Most likely that was the original noise, and now the pump that was put on is either defective, or there is air in the system.

    Justin

47. Ryan Says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 12:43 am

    Thanks for the feedback Justin! I will have those areas checked-out. Appreciate the information.

48. Ray Says:
    November 9th, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    What an annoying problem from the most unexpected places… the freaking shroud! This one made me go crazy after replacing the belts on a friend’s Legacy. Thanks a million for taking the time to post this solution.

49. Lisa Says:
    November 25th, 2009 at 6:34 pm

    Hi Justin, I ran across this post on a google search. This sounds like the exact problem I’m having with my 2004 Suburu Outback, however, it didn’t start happening right away. I bought the car used in Michigan and a few weeks later drove it across country loaded with my things to move to California. The squeal didn’t start until I was already in California for about a month so I don’t know if this is the same problem. Does the noise usually start immediately or might it wait a couple months? If it’s usually immediately, then I fear I may have a different problem. I did take a wrench and loosen the bolt that you show in the picture and it hasn’t seemed to help so far. But I don’t know if I loosened it enough. Any advice would be appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Lisa

50. Leslie Says:
    December 14th, 2009 at 6:58 am

    Hi Justin,
    Came across this website while googling. I have 2004 WRX 2.0manual. The radiator sprang a leak and was changed. A day or two after, the steering starts to whine with acceleration and turns, especially during the 1st 10-15min of driving. the whine disappears if the car is driven longer. Fluid level is good. Is it the steering pump or something to do with the radiator change?
    Thanks very much for any advice,

51. Darcy Closs Says:
    December 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 pm

    THis question was asked earlier but no reply was given. I’ll ask it again because I have the same queston: which bolt do you remove to reset the return line bracket(the only “bolt” I see is a torx head screw which does not appear to require adjusting).

52. Justin Stobb Says:
    December 23rd, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    Comment # 10 descibes what needs to be done to reset the line,

53. Darcy Closs Says:
    December 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    thanks justin. I did loosen the shroud bolts and replace the fluid and everything seems quite a bit better (my Canadian dealer was going to charge 700.00 just for the ps pump). Think I avoided that.

    I’m still not sure, though, even after reading comment 10, which bolt to remove to reset the return line. Is it the torx head screw?

54. jey Says:
    December 25th, 2009 at 10:47 pm

    Okay, i don’t know where to start but i’ll try to explain it. Its been a week that my power steering pump is leaking so i took all the part to fix it, and it seems look that the rubber/gasket inside the pump is worn or not good, so i decided to go to the auto parts store to buy a a liquid gasket maker which is good. After that i put everything back the way it was, then i start the engine make sure the leaks it fix, it fixed but there a noise when i turn the wheel, everything is okay except that, when i check the steering fluid its overflowing and did not put the Max level when i filled it up. Please help and please be specific for your answer and be serious please cause i need this car to take me to school and work. Thank you in advance!!!!

55. Justin Stobb Says:
    December 26th, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    Darcy,

    By loosening the torx type bolt and tightening it back up you will in effect relieve any strain that may have been pulling the tube one way or another. It is the only bolt that retains the return line tube to power steering pump. Some models don’t have the Torx head, which is why I don’t call out that it’s a Torx, as that would be very confusing to anyone who didn’t have one.

    Justin

56. Justin Stobb Says:
    December 26th, 2009 at 11:09 pm

    Jey,

    A power steering pump reseal kit can be purchased for around $32.00, and will have all of the proper seals and o-rings to make the repairs correctly. This is how you should make the repairs, and I would not advise otherwise. I would never use a liquid make a gasket product that could damage the pump or clog a passage. You could have a clogged passage or installed one of many parts backwards or incorrectly.

    I am serious; I am trying to be very specific for you.

    Next time you seek someone’s help on-line, maybe try and provide a little vehicle information, Subaru has many models that all have similar but also different systems. Also understand that putting the word please in front of a demand doesn’t make it any more pleasant to read “Please Be Serious” and “Please be Specific” I Always try to help, but I have to do it on my terms. There are some “pay for your questions to be answered sites” in which I suppose you would have the right to dictate to the person answering your questions, this just doesn’t happen to be one of them. I do this for free to try and answer questions about Subaru’s as I can and hope in doing so a potential reader will have a better understanding of their Subaru and how to navigate through repair and maintenance. I understand your situation is frustrating, I know a lot about Subaru, but I am not there with you, I am not seeing what you are seeing, or hearing what you are hearing so I am at a disadvantage and need as much vehicle information as possible to help you

    A lot of your question makes just no sense to me at all, if the fluid level is overflowing how can it be fixed? Power steering fluid “level at max” is checked with the vehicle running, is that how you are checking it?

    I always do my best to try and answer the questions that come in and I am usually also always happy to help someone out but I can’t fix your car for you, and I really have no idea what you have done wrong, only that you have done something wrong. Please understand I can give you advise and tips on things that are very common, such as a power steering noise that occurs after belt install on a Legacy or Outback that wasn’t there before, which is the point of this article, it became very apparent to me that this sort of thing will happen to all sorts of people and those same people may spend a lot of time and money that is not needed, or worse be advised by a service department they need a power steering pump they do not.

    It’s not very common to have to advise somebody who took their power steering pump apart and is now having a problem, in fact it’s the first time ever. There is a limit to what I can do over the internet, and really if you can’t figure out what’s wrong (which the possibilities are many) may be go to a local wrecking yard and buy a good used pump and move on.

    This may seem like a long winded answer to a question, but I am also using this as an example of how not to ask a question on our site.

    Readers, I will always try to answer your questions to the best of my ability, I only ask for you to be as specific as possible, and patient, if you have an emergency asking through the blog and awaiting my reply will most likely be to slow to be of any use to you.

    Justin

57. Darcy Closs Says:
    December 29th, 2009 at 4:08 am

    Thanks for the clarification on the torx bolt. This is a wonderfully helpful and dutifully attended site.

58. jey Says:
    January 3rd, 2010 at 10:05 am

    sorry, i have a 2004 wrx turbo. thanks!

59. Ben Says:
    January 4th, 2010 at 6:52 pm

    Justin,

    I have the 04 legacy anniversary ed, I recently had the belts replaced, and right after I drove off the lot ( from the Subaru dealer ) I heard this god awful loud noise. I did loosen the correct bolts as described in comment 10, then I did some small adjustments to give some more slack in that line, however.. it still has the loud noise.. I guess it’s not an instant fix, I just have to replace the fluid as well. Do you think that since the dealer replaced the belts and caused this problem that they should be responsible for fixing this issue? I do. I do appreciate you putting this out, maybe I’m doing something wrong, and they can fix it.

    Thanks Justin!

60. Hollie Says:
    January 7th, 2010 at 5:50 pm

    Justin,
    I have a similar problem to what’s been posted above, but could use your help. I have a 2004 Outback and recently it squeals a little bit and the steering wheel is hard to turn when I crank it (turning both left and right). Steering fluid is full. I’m hoping it’s something simple and inexpensive to replace, but I’m leery of getting taken advantage of at the shop. I’d like to sound somewhat educated when I go in the shop. Any advice on what to have them look at and what to say so as not to be taken for an expensive ride?!

    Thanks in advance-
    Hollie

61. Thomas W. Says:
    January 11th, 2010 at 8:51 pm

    Justin,

    Thanks for your time into this website and Q&A. My knowledge of Subaru’s is limited. I have an ‘02 h6 3.0 making a lot of noise all the time in the power steering pump and with air bubbling in the reservoir. But I can find nowhere on the net telling me how to bleed this air out. Could you help please? Forgive me if I missed how above and for straying off topic. Thanks.

62. Marc Says:
    January 12th, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    This was a life saver. Mine acted up after replacing the belt. I took the oil line mount off and cleaned the O rings. I emptied the PS tank and replaced with new oil. No noise. Saved me a trip to the dealership.

63. Theresa C Says:
    January 13th, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    My Subaru is making a really loud noise when I start it up….and a squealing noise….and it is also difficult to steer, when I first start driving, before it warms up? It also squeals when I turn right or left. Is it a belt? How can I fix this problem and how much does it cost?

64. Justin Stobb Says:
    January 14th, 2010 at 7:00 am

    Ben,

    Yes they should fix it

    Justin

65. Justin Stobb Says:
    January 14th, 2010 at 7:02 am

    Hollie,

    I think you are either looking at a simple belt adjustment or belt replacement, the cost should be under $80.00 to replace the drive belts.

    Justin

66. Justin Stobb Says:
    January 14th, 2010 at 7:06 am

    Thomas,

    On the H^, any air that is coming in and causing the fluid to aerate, needs to be fixed first, then bleed out or replace the fluid. There is no bleeder fitting, only a procedure that involves raising up the front wheels(make sure you use jack stands) and turning the steering lock to lock slowly with the engine off at first, than while cranking it over after you have disabled fuel and spark so the car doesn’t start, than top of the fluid and you should be ok.

    Justin

67. Justin Stobb Says:
    January 14th, 2010 at 7:09 am

    Theresa,

    It could be a belt, its a simple easy thing to take care of, the H6 has one accessory drive belt, the H4 has 2 drive belts, the cost varies but should be around $85 for the H6 and $80.00 for the H4.

    Justin

68. Qidao Li Says:
    January 15th, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    Justin,

    I have a Subaru Legacy 2006, I just replaced the power steering pump because it was hard to turn the wheels when the car was not moving. I never touch the alternator. When I replaced the power steering pump, the belt have already melted, now there seems to be a leak of power steering fluid somewhere when I’m driving because I can smell it and see smoke from the exhaust manifold. Do you think my problem is related to this post?

69. Adam Says:
    January 18th, 2010 at 3:14 pm

    Thanks for this Justin! We were actually thinking about getting a new car because we were tired of paying to fix this and that every other month. If I may, we have a 2003 outback limited edition. After having our head gasket replaced we had a whining sound when turning sharply immediately after leaving the shop. Now when it’s cold, it sounds like a sowing machine on steroids even when not turning. It goes away after 5 minutes of driving. Does this sound like a possibility for the simple fix you suggest? If so, I’ll be sharing this with the shop this week! Thanks again for your help!

70. Jennifer Says:
    January 19th, 2010 at 1:22 am

    Justin,

    I have read all above comments and seem to need a belt replacement. My problem is the same as Brandon’s and Theresa’s and a few others. Pardon my novice, but I am assuming these are drive belts and not a power steering belt I need to replace. Is that correct? Are they one and the same? I drive a 2002 Impreza Outback. Can you tell me what belt I need to purchase and where I can find directions that tell me how to do this? Your help is greatly appreciated.

71. Justin Stobb Says:
    January 20th, 2010 at 4:11 am

    Jennifer,

    There are many names for the same thing.

    The power steering pump, Alternator, and Ac compressor are all accessories to the engine, accessory drive belts are the belts that drive the engine accessories.

    So one can call it a drive belt, accessory belt, power steering belt, serpentine belt, etc.

    Your Subaru 2.5l has 3 belts, one timing belt, one power steering/alternator belt, & one ac belt, they are all drive belts.

    As far as instructions, that info is in a service manual, as far as where to buy belts, we sell belts as does the Subaru dealer.

    Justin

72. Justin Stobb Says:
    January 20th, 2010 at 4:14 am

    Adam,

    Its possible, but it may also just be a loose belt.

    Its hard for me to comment on a noise I cant hear for my self.

    It would be better for you to check the reservoir foe signs of fluid aerating.

    Justin

73. Justin Stobb Says:
    January 20th, 2010 at 4:16 am

    Qidao Li,

    Um no, your issue is not related to this post.

    I really think you need to let someone else service your car it sounds like you may have some significant challenges ahead of you, that based on your post I am not sure you may be up for.

    Justin

74. Adam Says:
    January 20th, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    Thanks for your help Justin. It’s much appreciated!

75. Keith Meyer Says:
    January 31st, 2010 at 3:17 am

    Justin:

    I have a 2004 Subaru Forester with only 47k miles. The steering is never a problem until I make a hard turn (obviously at slow speeeds) left or right turn…at which point the steering sounds as if something is “rumbling” / “grinding”. Any thoughts on this?

    Thanks, Keith

76. Chris Says:
    February 2nd, 2010 at 5:17 am

    Hi Justin…

    I have a 2001 Subaru Legacy Outback wagon and I seem to be having a combination of issues posted here going on.

    I live in Minnesota, so it’s quite cold in the mornings here. When I start the car after it’s sat for a period of time (usually 6 to 12 hours overnight), it makes a high pitched squeal. That noise gets worse if I turn the wheel. It will go away immediately if I rev the engine and if I let it warm up for about 10 minutes, it doesn’t seem to make any noise.

    Once I get it to speed on the highway, no issues whatsoever. Just happens when it’s sat for a while. I checked the belt and it seems to be in great shape (no cracks or worn spots) and it’s not loose. Power steering seems to work just fine as well, even if I leave right away before warming it up. It will squeal for a few seconds if I do that but not consistently.

    Just wondering if you have any ideas. Thanks very much for your help!

77. Jeff Says:
    February 14th, 2010 at 3:11 am

    I just bought a 2001 Outback from my Father-in-law (used car guy) with 235,000 miles on it. He got it cheap and replaced a blown head gasket. I noticed the engine purred like a kitten, but the power steering pump sounded horrible, even at highway speeds you could here it whine. Well I just went out tonight and loosened the alternator pivot bolt and the shroud retaining bolt(apex). I gave the return line bracket a little jiggle to find the sweet spot. I tightened everything back down; ensuring i didn’t hit the shroud with the wrench when tightening (could see nicks where others had hit it). When I first started it I could still hear the noise a little so I left it running and went around to the front. As I stood there I heard a THOMP! sound… and all was smooth and quiet!
    Wow I love the internet! Justin thank you so much for making this available to us novices!

78. Jeremy Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 6:19 am

    Justin,

    Thanks from Kennewick! A few years back I had the local Subaru dealer replace the alternator on our 2001 Outback. When we arrived to pick up the car, they mentioned we’d need a new power steering pump because it had begun making a terrible noise. I couldn’t afford it, drove the car home, loosened the belt a bit and I suppose inadvertently fixed the problem, because it went away. I then figured the dealer was being dishonest in trying to sell me a $450 plus pump install and said I’d never go there again.

    Today I replaced the AC compressor belt and had this issue reappear, and your advice helped a lot! Wow, what a touchy system. I replaced the spring clamp (seen in your 2nd photo) with a screw clamp on the power steering pump intake and the system flushed itself in about five seconds after I restarted the engine (no fluid change necessary; nice). Next time I take the car by the dealer I’ll let them know about this and apologize for mistrusting them.

    Thank you,
    Jeremy

79. Raffles Says:
    March 8th, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    I drive a 2003 Legacy Wagon 2.5 with 96,000 miles. Recently, when I start to car and begin to turn the wheel when it’s still cold and I’m at a standstill, the steering if very inconsistant with a loud whine. I had the fluid changed, but I fear that there is still air in the system.

    I think that I am having a similar problem to most people above and I am going to try and flush the system this weekend as directed above. Does this sounds like the same problem Justin. Any help you can give would be great.

80. Raffles Says:
    March 8th, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    so I just did as directed on my car. I also recently had the power steering fluid drained, and new fluid added. I don’t know if there is air getting into the system or not, but I think that there is because the fluid level is way above the recommended amount; so I’m assuming that there is an air bubble in the system.

    are there any other ways to check to see if air is in the system? the Fluid does not look aerated, but I’m not sure what aerated fluid looks like.

    last question, can you put new rotors on after you have installed new pads? I had the pads replaced, but I feel that I should have done rotors at the same time. Thought’s?

81. Justin Stobb Says:
    March 11th, 2010 at 4:01 am

    Raffles,

    If you look in the power steering reservoir while the car is running it will be very evident if there is any air entering the system and causing the fluid to aerate.

    Justin

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