car at idle and when i turn the wheels i get a "weee, wrrrr" kinda of noise... it's hard to describe. power steering fluid is topped off. the sound comes from the center by the block somewhere. i just took it for a 5 min drive today but won't get a chance to take a serious look at it til my next day off (Wed.)...any ideas???

Sounds like a slipping belt for the power steering. I think that it is the same belt for the ac as well so see if you get a similar noise with the ac on full. Maybe time to tighten it up or replace the belt?

well, I have the same problem. but also a bad noise from the steering pump. recently I put a turbo in my miata and seems that the pump are dead or some thing in the new setup are blocking the flow to the pump or maybe some heat problems from the turbo are affecting other parts. (the original line of the steering have to be modified for evade the new header, maybe that is the problem) any ideas?

damn is this old thread resurection day. yeah noob your problem is most likely a restriction in the PS line so simple solution is to scrap the PS and AC all together other solution is to try and make it work abit better.

thank you for the fast response.!!!
(by the way, I don´t have A/C) so I think that I can make the system work better.
Can my steering be damaged if I drive 10K to the garage? (with the supposed bad pump)
there is other things to check before buy a new pump? (well I Live in chile and mazda don't have all parts for my car and maybe I have to wait 15 days for the new pump)
were I can find a diagram of the steering system ? (to track the lines?

many thanks .!

My PS pump will whine once in a while on my '99.
Just give it more gas when turning, spinning tires will always drown out the whine of a PS pump.

thax, I'll try it tomorrow, I hope that nothing explode before reach the garage..