Not sure I would have given the same mechanic a third chance.

What pump did he install?

 

All 3 pumps had the same problem, this is the 3rd one, its even a lf-30 pump with a new hose. After a month this noise came and its been like this since January.

 

Anyone on here ever have this problem and what did you do to fix it?

Should I swap the fluid to CHF-11?

 

Can you get a new pump under a replacement warranty and buy fluid from the dealer this time?

 

Hoe old is your tensioner Pully?
Is it after a market tensioner Pully?
I once thought i had a power steering pump noise but no was the tensioner.

 

I had the the tensioner pulley upgraded to a hydraulic one like 6 months ago. Brand new. It was making noise the old one, once replaced the noise went away.

This sound in the video still persists, its not from the tensioner pulley.

 

The same noise from 3 power steering pumps. This is my 3rd one installed and same problem. I even had the system flushed and fluid swapped.
Each time the pump was replaced, the noise would go away then come back after a month.

My mechanic said I have to live with it. Pump works fine.

Car is a bmw 323ci

Any ideas how to fix it
Video link:

What brand were those 3 pumps?

 

What is the fluid level? Is the fluid frothy?

 

OEM pumps. No the fluid looks fine. Once I topped it off not too long ago, and the car kinda shook for a few minutes, not sure if that's normal.

 

Topping off?

Are you losing steering/atf fluid that fast?

 

No, i'm not losing atf.

Does anyone know why its knocking? Its coming from the psp pump. Is there any mechanics on here that has encountered this problem?

 

If it's the pump (big if) it could be play in the shaft. That shouldnt happen unless a steady force is applied to it. If your tensioner is hoovered, it could be making the belt to apply intermittent forces to the shaft, causing that racket you hear. Assuming it is the pump.

 

How are you sure it's the pump? you sure it's not the tensioner jumping around? Did you replace all tensioners? And no, not just the rolley polley wheels. I mean the tensioners themselves.

Just use ATF.

http://www.e46mango.com/2017/04/mango-definitive-e46-pulley-guide-diy.html

 

Yes, I had a power steering pump knock when the fluid level was low.

I replaced the reservoir and leaking hose, filled it with Dexron VI to the correct level making sure to turn the steering wheel lock to lock with the motor running, and the knock did not return.

I have a feeling you or your mechanic missed something.

And this assumes it is your pump knocking.

 

Did your mechanic remove the pulley and neglect to tighten the bolts?

 

remove the belt and wiggle the pulley/shaft of the pump. Most used E46 pumps develop excessive play in the shaft. So if this happens after 3 pump replacements it could mean you're just buying used pumps.

you can listen to the pump by *cautiously/safely* holding a screwdriver to it and your ear and listen for the noises. or mechanics stethiscope.

 

The knocking noise goes away when I turn the wheel or hold it and certain angled positions, then returns when I got back and turn it again.....?

 

pump is working differently when you turn. rpms higher, etc. things usually spin smoother when spun faster, particularly an idling engine. so whatever is loose stops being loose when the engine spins faster.

 

Yeah your right, after looking at videos on youtube its probably the idler pulley/shaft.

This is a brand new pump by the way.

Yeah thanks, I need to take it in again.

 

i'm in a very different part of socal than you--think san diego! sorry

if i were you i'd just drive the car and enjoy it. if its just the noise that bugs you, then you'll want to a) make sure everything is installed correctly/tight and b) replace anything in and around the belt system. this means pulley, water pump, a/c compressor, tensioners, etc. if it rolls, replace it. if it turns, replace it. if it connects to or touches any of those things, replace it.

 

Ok thanks bro.

 

Did u ever figure it out???

 

Lots of good advice here. Remember that the WP, PS, and Alt. are all on the same belt -- it could be any one of those pulleys or the tensioners in between. You said the pumps were OEM, so they either said "BMW" or "LUK", right?
My 2 cents:

1. I'd start to look away from the PS pump -- I find it hard to believe three failed on you. Could be that once the pump's broken in, it resonates juuust riiiight to make the real culprit knock.
2. One of the members here had a weird noise like yours -- turns out it was the belt itself (there was a little chunk missing from it).
   • While on that subject, you could try belt conditioner.
3. Are you sure it's not the water pump? (see #1). Mine made a fairly obnoxious noise and cracked one day before the replacement pump arrived.
4. Grasping at straws here: it could be your fan clutch -- it's rare, but a failing one can make a fairly weird sound (my last one on the ZHP did -- none of the others ever did that, they just failed 'locked' and made a loud turbine sound).

 

I seemed to have the same issue as was originally described. My PS system was leaking everywhere, so I replaced all the hoses, reservoir, and pump. After about two months, I started getting a knocking noise similar to what was described in the video. I used a mechanics stethoscope and isolated the problem to the power steering pump. I was able to change the pump under warranty and installed a new one. The knocking initially went away and then came back about a month later.
What I had realized at that point was that the bolts holding the pulley were coming loose. After taking the bolts out and applying thread locker, I haven’t had a problem since. I would recommend changing the bolts when you change the power steering pump because they may have gotten worn.

 

Yes change the bolts when you change the power steering pump to be safe. Mine was a bolt related issue.
That knocking noise from the best of my analysis seemed to be the bolt and the threading and it moving inside the area where its supposed to be locked down.

Also upgrading the pump is a good idea. I haven't had issues ever since I upgraded my pump. It does make the steering lighter, though thats what I wanted. Google "upgrade power steering pump for e46 bmw models".

Thanks.