E36 M3 is moaning...help?

[Teh Prof]

Hey,

My E36 M3 is intermittently moaning from right behind the instrument panel when I turn. Happens some days, doesn't happen other days. Do I guess correctly that my power steering pump is dying?

[drz]

Does the "moaning" go with the engine's speed?

[97alpineM3]

Can you hear this noise with the hood open?

How loud is it?... e36 tend to have noisey vent valves for the A/C. If you turn your air on and then completely turn it off you should hear the sound I'm speaking of.

Check those two including the one above.

Les

[Teh Prof]

Originally Posted by drz

Does the "moaning" go with the engine's speed?

It certainly doesn't. It just happens when I turn the wheel--and not always. Obviously it's more noticeable at lower speed (<20mph) than high speed, since I turn the wheel more at lower speed.

[Teh Prof]

Originally Posted by 97alpineM3

Can you hear this noise with the hood open?

How loud is it?... e36 tend to have noisey vent valves for the A/C. If you turn your air on and then completely turn it off you should hear the sound I'm speaking of.

Check those two including the one above.

Les

If I was standing 30 feet away, I'd have a hard time hearing it; from the inside of the car, it's about 1/4-1/3 the volume of what I can hear inside from the horn. Not sure how the hood affects things yet, as it has decided to behave today.

I don't think it has to do with the A/C, since I've heard it both with the A/C on and with the A/C (and climate control entirely) off.

[triggrhaapi]

if the pitch of the moaning changes with the engine RPM then it's power steering. You may be low on fluid. Try topping it off a bit and see if it goes away.

[Teh Prof]

Originally Posted by triggrhaapi

if the pitch of the moaning changes with the engine RPM then it's power steering. You may be low on fluid. Try topping it off a bit and see if it goes away.

Your suggestion worked perfectly. Thanks.