Squeaky steering pump

[djheath]

Hello, I think my steering pump is squeaking - mainly at idle there is a loud squeak/chirp - its not a slipping belt type of squeak. The auxiliary belt was replaced about 10K miles ago.
What is the cause of this and is there anything I can do to keep it going? I assume the best course of action is a new pump?
406, XU7JP4 engine 1.8 petrol 1999.

[jasper5]

First of all, check the power steering fluid level, low levels cause a noisy pump.

If all is well, spray WD40 on the belt and pulleys and see if the noise goes away.

[mjb]

could be a worn tensioner/idler. Slacken the belt and see what squeaks when you turn each bit by hand?

[teamster1975]

Are you sure it's the pump as I had exactly the same noise and it turned out to be the alternator bearings!
Get a length of rod or long screwdriver and hold one end on the pump & listen to the other end; then do the same for the alternator. If that doesn't shed any light pop off the aux belt and turn everything by hand to isolate the squeak!