It has become harder to turn the steering wheel so I know it has to do with my power steering, but now that it is colder in the morning I hear a loud noise when i turn the wheel until the car warms up. Which parts most likely need to be replaced to correct this? 2004 Accord EX V-6 btw.

Where do you hear this creaking ? Steering column - inside the vehicle or out side the vehicle .

Power steering pump. If the gears in the pump become worn or "galled" the pump will whine and it will be harder to steer until the pump is replaced. **Check the power steering fluid level first. If it's low add to the correct amount. This may help if it's just low on fluid. If this doesn't help it is probably new pump time.

could be the power steering pump itself. If it has a bad bearing it will do that. Especially when you turn it makes the steering pump work a lot harder.

I had a similar problem on my 2002 Escape, but it was also creaked when cold. It turned out to be an outer tie rod joint. It may also be a lower ball joint. My creaking would happen when turning the steering wheel even a quarter turn. I reached behind the tire and put my hand on the tie rod while my wife slowly turn the steering wheel back and forth. I could feel the very obvious vibration. Try the other side to see if you can feel the difference. Can you hear it when standing outside the car, and tell which side?

Probably the power steering pump. Can't emagine yours is going out so soon. Probably chinese made ****. These run about $50.00 Let me know when your ready to put it in I will guide you thru it. Unless you have a friend that can do it. Any way you can keep running it until it whines all the time. the steering will get a little harder the longer you wait. Keep a check on the fluid, you can use transmission fluid in it. It's cheaper than power steering fluid and works the same.
Randy

I had this same problem and the dealer could not reproduce the noise when I would take it in to get looked at. (during the day when the temperature was warm) So I decided to leave it over night and they test drove it in the morning when the temperature was cold and they heard the noise. It ended up bing the steering rack.

Hi, it sounds more like you have a improperly tensioned drive belt. If you didn't get all the trapped air out of the power steering system this maybe the cause of your stiffer steering problem now. Try loosening the P/S belt all the way and starting the car if you still hear the noise you know its in one of the other drive belts. good luck

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.

Have your power steering belt checked and adjusted, or replaced if worn.