I did a search and narrowed it down to hopefully just 2 possibilities. Only when the truck has been sitting for a while and the engine is cold, the steering squeals while turning either direction. This only happenes for a few minutes until the truck warms up. I will not hear this on a really hot day, mostly the next morning after a cool night. I think it could be low steering fluid (which I think it would still even squeak when the truck is warm) or the power steering drive belt. I have about 103,000 mi on my 01 4runner that I bought used and I think the drive belts are still original. Just wanted to see what others thought.

 

prolly the belt squeel. when turned off, put pressure on the belt and see how loose it is. then also check to see if u see cracks on teh ribbed side of the belt.

 

Pump=whine, belt=squeak.

Once the fluid warms up, it expands, which would be why it stops when warm.

When the belt warms up, it gets tackier, which would be why it stops when warm.

Check your fluid and check you belt tension (and that the pump is tight), and then spray your belt w/ some belt dressing.

THEN come back here if you still have a problem.

 

If you think that the belts are originals then REPLACE them.

 

belts seemed to have been replaced...had it checked out while getting the oil changed today at the dealership. The squealing is coming from oil on the belt leaking from the seal of the power steering pump. He recommended replacing the whole pump at a cost of about $800...does this seem right?

 

check autozone or something for the powersteering pump i'm pretty sure they will be under 200, labor should be no more than 100.

u can always get a used pump, i hardly ever see these fail.

 

Buy a rebuild kit (a complete kit of new seals) for $25-$30 and rebuild your old pump. It takes a couple of hours to do, but much more economical than buying a new pump.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/POWER...QQcmdZViewItem