Steering whine and ticking noise - not fixed!

The power-steering has always had a loud whine when turning at low-speeds, but it's safe to say this has worsened over the summer, where I could hear it while turning at higher speeds - roundabouts and stuff - and the after the snowy weather the whine can be heard turning in either direction most of the time. A ticking noise has also developed under the bonnet that seems to be coming from the front of the engine.

After much deliberation we decided it must be the power-steering pump on its way out with the ticking coming from its pulley. My friends had even begun to comment on the noises so I went ahead and bought the pump along with a new auxiliary-belt and spent a Sunday fitting them. The used pump I bought was definitely newer and in far better condition than mine, but if anything this made the problem worse. As soon as I fired her up the ticking noise was back and the whine could now be heard on tickover. I revved the engine and the whine went with it like a supercharger.

I can now only guess that the whining noise is coming from the steering-rack itself, which are expensive new. I can find used ones for about £100, but they are hellishly complex to fit. The ticking noise is worse, as it could be anything - the alternator-pulley, crank-pulley, oil-pump, water-pump, even the timing belt or cam-pulleys. Unless I book the car in with a pricey specialist I may never find the culprit - and I can't replace every part on the engine.

On top of this, I'm still having to top the engine up with coolant. It's such a shame that its still losing some over several weeks and there are still no signs of a blown head-gasket, so that may very well be the water-pump too. The coolant could be ending up in the boot however, but I suspect its probably just a leak. I have taped up around the rear-lights and tightened them as far as they will go into their recess over the last few months, but it seems they are determined to keep on letting in water. My subs and amp are often running with condensation and the carpet on the sub-box had ice all over it round xmas.

To top this little lot, I neglected to finish off painting the rear wheel-arches so rust has begun to creep back on both of them and they need redoing. It strikes me that as the weather gets nicer again, the forthcoming six months are going to have to be spent on a load more repair work, rather than getting back on the mods like I desperately want to. I was hoping to get the front TEINs on, fit bigger brakes, an STi intercooler to safely up power and then concentrate on the repairs come MOT time in June, but these problems won't wait and there could be a ton more on the test.

Its a crying shame, but I've decided to quit while Im ahead and move the car on to someone who will spend time on taking it to the next level, or just wrap my pride and joy round the nearest tree. I'll be listing the car on eBay shortly and we'll see what it makes. There is also a new BMW in the pipeline...