My ford ranger is leaking power steering fluid and my left wheel is makeing a loud sound. whats wrong?

make sure your using power steering fluid recommended for the vehicle. If automatic transmission fluid it aerates causing bubbles. It's very similar to the effect of shaking a bottle of liquid detergent vigorously when half full. Having that much air in the system can cause it to whine very loudly and reduce the life of the pump.

its due to low/no fluid level in the power steering reservoir.Check the fluid in the power steering. If it is low the car will make noise when you turn the wheel. the internal parts gets rubbed hard and noise occurs. refill the fluid and let it reset for some time then try it will get the fluency to move smooth and noise will get stopped. -------- This will help. Thanks please keep updated.please do rate the solution if helped.thank you for using fixya.

The power steering leak is creating bubbles in your power steering pump which gets strained more when turning, which causes it to be louder when turning. If you know where your leak is, then fix that, then try to bleed your ps system by filling up with the cap off the resevoir and turning the steering wheel max left to max left with trans fluid. if the noise is still there then your ps pump needs to be replaced along with the ps vsv located on the side of the pump.

Could be either a loose belt or you are low on power steering fluid,or the power steering pump could just be worn out.

The power steering pump is normally connected or driven by the engine with a V-belt. A loose belt can cause squealing as soon as the power steering come under load (e.g. steering left or right while stopped).

Check the tension on the V-belt directly connected to the power steering pump. This may need replacement.

Hoep this helps.

It sounds like the power steering belt is too loose, tighten it up a bit but not too much just enough to make slipping belt stop.

i don't think the brake pads would cause the problem have you checked the power steering fluid ??

Check your wheel bearing. Make sure all is tight and ok

The problem could be anything from a power steering hose has leaked out all the power steering fluid or the steering rack could be leaking fluid. Has the car made any strange noises when turning the steering wheel? A car that is loosing power steering fluid will at some point lose so much fluid as to make the power steering pump cavitate (starve for fluid) and the pump will make a high pitched noise when it has too little fluid in it. I can't remember if the 1996 ranger had only one belt on the engine or if the power steering has it own seperate belt. The belt being gone would prevent the power steering from working but if you only have one belt the car would also overheat.

one at a time. after you install them make sure you turn the car on and move the steering wheel left to right several times to let the fluid circulate into the pump. you hear a strange noise but it will go away