# Steering noise: urgent?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steering-noise-urgent/705014>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 18, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steering-noise-urgent/705014 "2014-11-18T23:40:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steering-noise-urgent/705014/1 "2014-11-18T23:40:07Z")

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I have a 2002 PT Cruiser, and am experiencing a “groaning” sound when steering at low speeds. Probably a power steering problem or struts, or possibly something else. I couldn’t get a service appointment until next Monday. Is it ok to drive until then?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steering-noise-urgent/705014/2 "2014-11-18T23:42:34Z")

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Have you checked the level of the power steering fluid?

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**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steering-noise-urgent/705014/3 "2014-11-19T00:09:02Z")

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Have the power steering pump checked by the dealer. (after checking fluid as **beowulff** suggested.)

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steering-noise-urgent/705014/4 "2014-11-19T00:41:58Z")

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If the fluid level is low, top it up to normal. After that the groaning will probably cease.

if the fluid level is already normal or the groaning doesn’t quit after you top up, then it’ll be fine to drive for days or weeks until you can get to a mechanic. Sooner is better than later, but this almost certainly isn’t an emergency. You can minimize groaning and pump wear by trying to avoid extra sharp turns or turning the steering wheel when the car’s not moving.

When it gets to groaning all the time, or with gentle highway-type steering inputs, the pump is on its last legs. At that point repair needs to be in a couple days lest you be stranded by the roadside when it quits altogether.