My acura 2003 tl type S has got 200k miles on it. Recently i have been hearing squeaking noise when sitting in the car and pushing down the hood and also when turning the wheel i hear a squeaking noise too.
Took it to a shop and the mechanic said he needs to get back to me on the noise due to his schedule but he did say i probably need a new power steering pump replaced. he checked the fluid and it was fine, he did see the power steering belt moving a bit wobbly though and he said thats why i probably need a new power pump..

Is he right? and if so... should i fix these or just let them run their course?

thanks!

 

Why not fix it? . Unless you have the money to get a new car, fixing will be the cheaper option.

 

BS Power steering pump.

It's more than likely your ball joints. Replace both sides if you can.

 

Or your suspension squeaks if it's original after 200K miles

 

but it seems to be 2 separate problems or its one? When i sit in my car the car squeaks without car even on so it cant be steering related but if i do steer it is making noise? I did have ball joint replaced maybe 100k miles ago as well.
The noise also seems to be from the driver side when pushing down the car the mechanic said.

Say if these 2 are separate issues and the steering pump belt is wobbly, what could be related to it if not the pump? I dont think turning the wheel's squeaking sound is like how it sounded when it was the ball joint though...
thanks!

 

Mine did the exact same thing before my ball joint went bad. Alternatively, if you don't mind the squeaking for a while, and it is your ball joint, the squeak will eventually go away and develop into a rattle and clunk when going over bumps at low speed whilst turning.

A loose PS pump belt will squeal/scream when turning. It will buzz if low on fluid.

 

^ yeah sounds like lower ball joint(s)

 

so i guess the first step is to determine if the turning of the wheel and pushing car down's squeaking are from the same source - ball joint (HOPEFULLY NOT!!). I really hope not since i replaced it 100k miles ago and i recall it was a few hundred dollars? If after fixing the source turning of the wheel still makes sound then it may be the pump. The guy did say if it is the pump then i should get it replaced since i might lose power steering from it. Either way this will cost me more $$$... but i guess at least these are the wear and tear parts not real $$$$ parts...

 

Well, 100k on the ball joints isn't like they are exactly new anymore esp if you have been hitting some good potholes. If you are handy you can change them yourself and save a lot of $$. Although if the last set was pressed into the original knuckle I believe you can't replace them again (i.e., you have to get new knuckle with new ball joint) but I could be wrong. Your PS would not make noise when just pushing the car down.
You try to check the ball joints by raising each side and grabbing the wheel at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions and rocking back and forth for play.

 

If the car makes any noise at all when the engine is off then it won't be your PS pump.

Ball joints are ~$50 and should cost about 1hr of labor. You might need an alignment done after. So that should be about $200. That's why I say do upper and lower for ~$250 and you'll be golden for another ~100K.

I'm telling you, my car had the exact same symptoms as yours

Feel free to replace your PS pump if you'd like ~$350+

 

thanks. Well its not like i want to spend more for PS pump and i am hoping it isnt. But hypothetically speaking if the ball joint or non-PS pump screaking noise has been resolved but turning wheel still makes the noise... would i need to shell out the ~350 for new pump or it could be further minimized?

 

The lower ball joint can and will squeak pretty loud when turning at low speed or stopped