Rep Power: 0

I just drove my car (only 50,000 miles) from Illinois to Oregon (2200 miles). Around Boise, my engine started producing a "whine" of sorts.

There is a loud buzzing coming from the power steering pump. If I turn the wheel or accelerate the noise becomes more pronounce. The car still drives and turns fine.

There are air bubbles coming out in the power steering reservoir. The reservoir has always been full (and still is) and it has never been serviced.

The maintence guy (who was an auto mechanic for 20 years) at my apartment looked at it. He claims I have a leak somewhere in my power steering system where air is getting in. Since he couldn't see any bad seals in what was visible, he guessed the leak is back by the rack-and-pinion steering column.

Now, is the air in the line causing the noise and whine, or did the air damage my pump and that's making the noise? I don't even know where to take the car because I just moved to Portland.