Boiled down to facts. Power steering noise continues after 4 p/s pump replacements. All fluid new, no air in the lines. Even purged the entire fluid lines and rack. Turning the wheel make no difference. Only RPM raises and lowers pitch of whine. Can be heard a block away. It is not the belt. It is not the alternator. It is not an idler or pulley. On a noise level scale of 10 this would be a 5 to a 6. Very annoying indeed!
Noise is gone if you run the car with no belt.
Whatdya think? The rack itself? How could it be? Don;t want to go to the labor and expense to have the issue remain.

Anyone else experience this on a 2000 Cavilier, 2.2 engine

 

How about a video?

 

A video? Good idea! Never thought of that. It might be difficult to capture the sympton since it is noticable mostly while driving in town, stopping and starting and so on.
I'll give it a try! Thanks!

 

Well, I was hoping that the pitch/whine could be picked up while parked with the hood open.

Have someone give the car some rpm's and engage the steering wheel to see if that causes the whine to change pitch.

Not sure we'll have a clue if you do get the whine noise posted, but it might help.

 

I had a whine in my old engine for about a month, then I blew a rod driving up the Interstate, so I'm wondering if you're not going to have the same problem, I would hope not. I replaced the engine and I don't currently have a whine, not sure what exactly was causing it before.

I'd be worried if it gets really loud, at that point I would actually pull over immediately.

 

We have 2002 Coupe 2.2L auto with similar whine.
Was present when we bought the car. I inspected and determined not PS related so I left it.
20 months and 18k miles later, still same and still don't know source.
Car did have PS problem and I could hear the PS pump whine separate from the other whine.

Curious - What makes you say not belt or alt or pulley if noise is gone when belt removed?