so I installed a new rack and pinion this weekend got an alignment and drove home 300 miles. came to a stop light and herd a squeeking sound coming from the engine bay. I popped the hood to see what it could be and it sounds like a belt squeeking but i replaced the belt when I did the h/c install. The squeel still happends when I give it gas. Could it be the power steering pump. The hoses are hooked up right and everything.

 

highly dangerous, do at you're own risk!!! but try to stick a wrench on the belt tensioner and make the belt tighten up while it's running to see if it goes away or not. if it does a new tensioner is in order.

another trick, remove belts and get some cleaning solvent safe for rubber and wash the belts to remove greese and dirt. reinstall.

 

Honestly, if you can't remember the last time, or if you ever replaced the 2 belt tensioners and the 2 idler pulleys, it MAY be one or more of those. I just replaced mine which were the original factory ones. They didn't squeak or anything, but were making a different much quieter noise. Anyway, when I removed them I tested them by hand,they all clicked, clunked and basically felt like crap when spun. They were in terrible shape. I popped the seals on a couple. There was no grease left in them and the bearings were fairly loose in their cages.

So, check ALL those pulleys I listed. 2 for the main drive and 2 for the AC belt system. You may actually want to remove them and spin them by hand up close to your ear to get a proper reading of any noise they are making. Plug, you'll be able to feel any clunks and rattles in the pulley while holding and spinning it.