My parents '01 GT1 does this also.

I think that is a sign of a bad power steering pump. Most people complain of that noise and shortly thereafter, the pump will go. Dealerships aren't cheap to replace it.

I get that noise occasionally, usually if there if its damp or cold outside. No problems yet, fingers crossed.

I just changed my power steering pump yesterday so that shouldn't be it unless I got a bad one from AutoZone.I am having my rack n pinion replaced tomorrow so hopefully that will solve it.
Has anyone had this noise and something was wrong other than the pump?If so what was the problem?It sure has me stumped.

I can't believe no one else has had this problem........I guess I got the only lemon around!!

I've got my money on the rack and pinion.

I hope you are right since the rack n pinion is being replaced tomorrow.I can't afford another thing to go wrong with this car at this time.I am still hearing a noise from my new power steering pump that I had before I replaced it,but I am hoping it is just air in the system.I take off the cap of resevoir and hear the air come out,but who knows, with the way my luck has been the past 2 weeks it will be a pain in the rear end to get figured out I guess!

Well, I'm assuming you are having the rack put in at a shop. What did they say?

I haven't mentioned the noise to them yet because I didn't think anything of it until after I put my new pump on yesterday the noise was noticably louder.

Yea it's gotta be that rack. But I still don't understand your situation....you are having a shop put the rack in, but you didn't have them check it out? I'd definitely take it to a shop that will properly diagnose the problem so you don't end up blowing extra cash.

I am not having a shop put the rack on.I had it checked by a guy that does work for one of my family members on the side.He didn't listen inside where I hear the noise because at that time the noise was just about nonexistant and I didn't really think anything of it at the time.
I was to have it put on today,but the guy cancelled on me so I didn't get it on yet.

Whoa, this is almost a natural occurance it seems, because there were a few threads in the past that yeilded about a dozen people who had this problem, including one of my friends having this problem with his GA, and ive seen it happen on other GM cars too. I know the sound, the sound while you move the wheel. People have said something about the seals making the sound, but im not sure what the problem is, but in past threads people havent really been worried about it at all...

I just thought it was the radio picking up "white noise" from the steering system. I'll have to see if mine does it with the radio off.

That's what I thought too.

i get that, started in june/july and no problems so far

Well I dropped my car off at the guys and when I went back to pick it up he said my rack might not be bad because the return hose from the power steering pump had been leaking and was dripping on the boot of the rack so he just fixed the hose and said to ride around for a while and see if the rack boot shows any signs of leaking to make sure.I do have the zipper like noise so I have made an appointment at the dealership to have it checked out by a Pontiac mechanic so that I can make certain what the problem really is.I will keep everyone posted on the cause of the noise.

i dont think its the pump...my power steering pump went out this past summer....and i had the noise before it went out. i got the pump replaced, but the noise came back about two months ago. so i hope its not the pump.

I went to the dealership today and they are saying my rack is bad so I am having it replaced next Monday.Hope it fixes the problem!
I bought a rack from AdvanceAutoParts instead of buying the overpriced rack from the dealer.It is a remanufatured one,but does have a lifetime warranty which is good.

Almost forgot they also said that underneath my motor that the frame is saturated with oil so it must be leaking oil somewhere,but I check my oil regularly and it is always full so there is no way it can be leaking.
They know that the return hose of pump was busted,but say that was not where the saturation came from so if not I don't have a clue what could have caused it.

Sorry for the late replay, haven't been around in a while.

It is the rack and pinion. I had the exact same zipper noise problem fixed a few years back.

The car drove fine, but the dealer said it is something pretty major, so have it fixed.

Power steering fluid check?
 

How are you supposed to check the level of power steering fluid?? Mines makin a funny noise sometimes I wanted to start there. thanks

just remove the fluid cap, it has a lil dip stick type of thing on it. Does it make a noise when u turn the wheel all the way to the end? if so then thats normal.

nah side to side, kind of a creaking noise?? can't really explain it

You mean like a "zipping" sound?

hard to explain, but when the wheel is all the way turned it does make a weird noise. I was told its normal.

nah as its turning lately I've noticed a weird noise.. slow speeds like when backing out of a spot. maybe because it's cold?? I dunno, I'll check the fluid tomorrow.

I had my rack installed today and the zipper noise is gone!!So now that problem is solved so it's now on the the many other strange noises coming from my front end that no shop can pin point the causes..............hope I still have some hair left by the time I get them figured out!! LOL

Did you get the noise with the car going straight too? My 99 has like a zipper or squirming rubbery noise, but i hear it when going straight and slow also. It seems like it is getting worse when i turn now. I was hoping it was the problems with the tire lettering squirming on the wheels but it is getting pretty loud. I recently had to add some power steering fluid too.

I didn't hear it going straight,it was only while turning the steering wheel back and forth.If you had to add fluid recently the rack might be leaking or also could be a hose,it would be best to take a look and check your hoses plus the rack.You could also put a piece of card board or something underneath your car while parked to see if you get any fluid to tell if you actually have a leak or not.

I park in the same place every day and haven't noticed anything on the ground. I have to get someone to drive it while i listen.

So your noise is coming from the tires?Do you have the original factory tires on it?If so,you could have the defective RSA's that has been an issue with quite a few owners including myself.

That's what i was thinking. It turns out the tire pressure dropped around 10psi on all the tires because of the cold weather, hence no warning light. I never would have figured it could have dropped that much.

My 2000 has had this issue since last winter when its cold. Usually when its below freezing outside. I notice no steering difference at all and once its warmer it instantly goes away.

And here is your answer:

#02-03-08-008 Rattle/Creak/Popping Type Noise from Front of Vehicle When Turning (Replace Both Front Stabilizer Shaft Insulator Brackets) - (Nov 4, 2002)

Taken from another section in the forum.

I had the zipper sound (it actually sounded sort of like vinyl against vinyl, to me, but I could definitely understand zipper) on my '99 SE. Didn't start until the 4th year or so, and never seemed to effect steering, so I pretty much ignored it.

Yea,I tried to ignore as long as I could,but it got louder and more noticable so I knew it was time to get it fixed.An expensive fix at that!

mine sounds like ohh i don't know a servo.. or maybe the vinyl against vinyl sound.. but only when i turn.. i mean it might be the the zipper sound but i think the zipper idea to me is a little rougher than the sound i'm hearing.

Whatever the sound you're hearing sounds like it is not normal so something is wrong.The dealership said there were other things that can cause the noise too other than the rack,but I can't really remember what the others were.Sorry.

Mine definitely does that same zipper like noise too, and my g/f's Alero does also. I plan on getting it checked out when I have my APOC CAI installed in about a week and a half.

I have now owned 4 Pontiacs and the only one that didn't make this steering wheel noise was my 1990 GA. I had a '92 Sunbird that I put 120,000 miles on, a '97 GAGT that I put 75,000 miles on, and on my '00 GAGT it made that noise since I bought it in March '03 I put 35,000 on it already, and no problems with that. I was always told that it was a seal. I never had any problems with my power steering, or my steering in general. Hope this helps relax some of you.:thumbs: