My sister's Civic (2002 LX coupe) is making awful wailing/squealing noises when she turns the steering wheel. It sounds like a dogbox when she backs up. It just started today. Still drives fine (but loud). PS fluid level looks fine, though a little brown. Under the hood, it sounds like its the PS pump. With the hood closed, its just as loud and almost sounds like its coming from something bigger. When inside the car, the sound is still there but there's another sound. Honestly, it sounds like there's water gurgling through a hose or something, maybe kinda sounds like high pitched static through the speakers (but its not from the speakers). Almost sounds like its coming through the cluster.

Think its dangerous to drive? Any ideas wtf is up? Worst case is that her PS converts to manual lol?

 

Powersteering... pump internals wearing, or pump bearings maybe? I'd take the belt off and see if the pulley spins nice or if it feels funny...

just my $0.02... and it might not even be worth that much lol

 

Cheap way to see where the grinding noise comes from exactly is using a mechanic's stethoscope (cheap tool, approx.. $10 to $15) or a long screwdriver on the part and your ear on the handle end. You will right way notice the different pitches of grinding sound on each part (alternator, power steering pump, engine valve cover...) and be able to isolate exactly which part the noise comes from.