I have 1 busted power steering boot that's not yet leaking to the ground. I always make sure there's fluid in the power steering resevoir. I sometimes get a quick whining sound while slowly backing out driveway/parking lot.However that is NOT the sound in question. While in a fast food drive-thru (great way to listen to your engine!), I'm hearing a very slight whining sound from the engine that goes away whenI put it in neutral. What's that sound? Related to anything power steering?

 

Is the tranny fluid low?

 

The whiney sound could be the wife or kids! It would almost have to be the transmission or the power steering. Are you getting it with the AC on? Does it get louder when you turn the steering wheel? Try to pin down exactly when it gets worse and that will help you determine the cause.

 

Thanks for the replies. I checked the transmission fluid this morning after warming it up for 5mins and shifting throught all gears for at least 5 seconds each. Sure enough the fluid was only halfway up the stick to where "hot" is. So I added some. Haven't had a chance to really listen for the sound however. I'll keep updated.

Turning the A/C on doesn't make it worse. Turning the steering wheel is normal except for the occasional whine in parking lot/driveway turns, which I believe is the power steering going bad right?