Anyone know how to check the power steering in a 2005 Saturn Relay? I don't see any thing under the hood for it, and I can't find any information online.

Not sure if this will help or not, it seems to be the way several Saturns from 2000 to 2005 are checked
https://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/2000_Saturn_LS2_3.0L_V6/power_steering_fluid/check_fluid_level

There's no reservoir, so I think it may be electric. If that's the case, I think the motor is starting to go.

It whines when steering, sometimes steering is a little hard. I first started having the issue about two weeks ago, at first I thought it was the weather but when it warmed up the issue got a little worse.

Does your owners manual list a type or capacity for power steering fluid? That would indicate its not electric I would think.

I found a pdf of the manual and on page 5-12 it shows a diagram of the engine compartment and it shows a power steering reservoir so if yours doesn't have one I'm not sure what else to say except maybe its time to take it to a mechanic and ask them.

https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam/gmownercenter/gmna/dynamic/manuals/2005/saturn/relay/2005_saturn_relay_owners.pdf

Oh, yeah it's there. Thanks

Glad you figured it out

Yeah, I saw what they say is the power steering resvior, but it didn't look like it.

My car is dead.

How often do you need to get a car battery?

I should start my own thread.

Generally batteries last between 4-7 years. You shouldn't need to change it until it goes bad.

Did you try to jump it?

First, if you have no power steering fluid reservoir you probably have a manual steering system.
Look at the rack and pinion and see if there are tubes connected, if there are, follow those tubes.

If your battery goes dead, it could be a bad battery or it could be a starter relay or a solenoid or the starter itself.
It could also be a bad connection in the wires (cables).
Turn your lights on, if they go out when you try to start it check the cable connections.
If they get dim but stay on, charge the battery.
Most auto parts stores will check your battery with a meter for free.
Some will even offer to install a new one at no charge.
If you get a jump start and the engine stays running and the lights are bright, the alternator is working.
If you get a jump start and you turn the lights on and it sputters and dies, your alternator or the connections are bad.
Knowing that you live in cold weather, when batteries lose their cold cranking reserve but start with a jump start, the problem is likely a battery.
Most batteries have a date on them in the lil punch outs. If its a car with the OEM battery in it, consider the age.
If you get 5 years on a battery in harsh conditions, yer doing good.

sounds like the pump is going. also check the hoses and connections for leaks

That's what I'm thinking. There's no leaks and plenty of fluid. Maybe time to get a new pump.

tom4u ought to be able to chime in on how to check the pump vs the rack.

Here's another one, and I didn't believe it at first. You can lose charge in the battery, if the top of it is dirty. Apparently, dirt will conduct electricity across the poles of the battery.

Yes, it sounds silly. But it does.

You are correct.
It causes a parasitic drain in the grime because it conducts electricity between the posts. It happens more on top post batteries than side post but it can happen to any grimy battery.
You can actually take a voltage reading with a meter on the top of a dirty battery.
Another thing, if you are having problems with a charged battery going dead overnight you might have what is called a parasitic load short in the electrical system.
Turn everything off that has a switch.
Remove the negative battery cable from the battery.
Touch the cable to the negative post and see if there is a spark.
Note that some of the electronics in newer cars have a keep alive voltage so in the newer stuff you might get a tiny spark.
If you do this at night it is easier to see the spark.
If there is a spark, pull one fuse and try it again.
If there is no change in the spark, put that fuse back in and pull a different one.
When you pull a fuse and the spark diminishes significantly, that fuse is the circuit that has the parasitic drain.
Then its a matter of looking at one circuit to find the cause.
As a precaution, I always turn off everything electrical before I stop the engine, this gives the battery a chance to recover a lil and also allows full power to your starter when you start it again.

If I recall correctly some GM racks had what techs called "Morning Sickness"
caused by spool valve seals in the rack. I think that was corrected in the 90s or 00s tho. Could be something similar tho.

A growling noise in a power steering pump is mainly caused by cavitation.
I would look for leaks or kinks in the lines and hoses.
Make sure the belt and tensioner are good.
Sadly, without putting a flow meter and pressure gauge on the system its tough to diagnose a bad pump that isn't making noises.
Most techs will just replace the pump once all other parts of the system have been checked out.
Also, sad to say it but some people contaminate their systems by not using the right fluid. If the system is contaminated, its likely all the rubber components need replaced.
I've seen this in hydraulic brake systems more than power steering systems.
Some power steering systems have filters too. I don't think the Saturn does but you could do a search about it online.