A weird sucking noise has developed on my 2002 Lancer ES. It sounds as if it is coming from the steering column, and goes away when I turn the wheel slightly in either direction. I have a feeling that it is an air sucking noise because the sound went away when my RPMs dropped to very low levels (~500) after resetting my ECU. I can hear it from the outside as well, somewhere deep in the engine bay. Any ideas?

 

If it goes away when you turn your wheel, possible power steering pump whine? how loud is it? they make a slight whine noise all the time, usually WHEN you turn them though. Deep in the engine bay? Like behind, maybe towards the power steering rack? Other possible causes could be a intake/exhaust leak, if it is louder/softer with RPMs/load

 

Yea + 1 sounds like it could be a power steering pump. My 02 lancer makes a sucking sound when i turn my car off. I believe thats just the intake though...

 

Yep could be the power steering pump, but i wouldn't try to hurry and replace it just yet. See if your power steering fluid could also be low. If it is buy more and just pour it in and drive on it and see what happens.

 

Yeah, that's the throttle body.

I'd also check vacuum and breather hoses. Make sure none of them have a leak.

 

Not the power steering fluid, I already tried to replace that and it didn't do anything. I am almost positive that it is some sort of air leak because it isn't a whine, so much as it is a sucking sound. To clarify, the sound disappears COMPLETELY when I turn my wheel in either direction between 1/8 - 1/4. However, when it started I could get it to go away by just putting a little pressure on the wheel in either direction.