I just joined this forum. I have a 2010 CX-7 (non-turbo) that is probably the best car I've ever owned....and I've owned about 50. It currently has about 136,000 miles and, apart from the usual tires and battery I've only made two repairs: brake pads at 70,000 (which it really didn't need!) and an $8 AC compressor relay. That's it!! Needless to say, my wife and I love this car. She always drives it instead of our much newer Honda CRV.

Here's the issue. For the last year or two the power steering has been making noise. NOT a squealing belt....but a kind of moaning noise. When the weather is cold it's somewhat loud when first started, but quiets down as the car warms up. In warm weather the sound is much less noticeable. There are absolutely NO other symptoms. The steering, cold or hot, is perfectly normal. Never any slippage or any other odd feeling.

I'm just wondering if I should spring for a new PS pump and see if that solves it, or would a cheaper option (such as draining the old PS fluid and replacing with new) likely solve the issue? I keep putting it off since the car isn't driven that much (we're retired), but we'll probably pass the car along to our granddaughter in a couple of years - so I don't want it to fail on her.

Oops....I just checked my maintenance records (which I keep on a spreadsheet) and realized that the serpentine belt has never been replaced. I need to do that. Any chance the belt is the issue? Maybe the noise when cold being so much worse than when it's hot is a clue?

I appreciate your help. I've been turning my own wrenches for 60 years - but have seldom had to do anything to any of my newer cars. My 1978 MGB is my hobby cars, and it's MUCH easier to work on

 

Well, thanks for everyone's help!
Problem solved. The noise WAS caused by the old serpentine belt. Never heard one sound anything like that, but at least it was a cheap and easy fix...