Just reading this one late in the game but I have EXACT same problem with my 2003 Disc at 77k. The whine gets louder at full turn R or L. I can mainly hear it the driver's seat area only at idle and can't hear it so much under the hood. The car steers great. The water pump seems fine - no coolant leaks and no play in fan. I flushed the PS pump it twice with extreme flushes using more than 6 quarts to flush everything out. Added a bottle of Lucas which made no difference. Went ahead and replaced both idler pulleys, tensioner and serpentine belt. All this made no difference. I really feel your problem and mine is the PS pump and can only be remedied with a new pump. I am just going to live with mine until it gets worse as the Truck handles great right now and I have absolutely no leaks. But the pump replacement is inevitable.

 

Guys,
This is somewhat common with Disco's, the P/S pump, as the ACE pump can get noisey. Sometimes they will last a long time and then fail, sometimes they hust start to whine then fail without any additional notice.
If you get to the place of needing to replace it, consider, http://www.roverlandparts.com/powersteeringpumps.aspx for $250, you will save some money.

 

Good Day,

Here's what I've observed from my 2001 Disco II

-Whiny Chewbacca kind of sound like a small motor, belt, big spring (hard to describe, sorry) - was very intermittent for several months, seems to be related to tight cornering slowly

-Sound is now constant whenever cornering anytime, lessens gradually after straightening out - seems to only happen after driving a little bit, not initially, but not sure of this timing observation

-Took to shop for checks - they found my high pressure power steering line was in really rough shape and was leaking very slowly - reservoir was slightly low

-Replaced high pressure line and topped up fluid - sound seems to be less, steering seems to be generally tighter now too

-Sound is fairly frequent now (a few days later) but not as bad as it was

-The sound changes as I turn the wheel, as before

-The truck does not have ACE

-I have had (so far) no steering issues (other than: a shaking from my poorly rotated tires when at around 78 km/hr and a very rare strong vibration when stopped or slowly moving when turning the wheel far right which has happened for the past seven years I've owned the truck and is just something I live with)

-I replaced the water pump (with one from P T Schram) as part of a full engine overhaul in October 2011


-My next thoughts are to add the Lucas...that is this product: Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak?

Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak | Canadian Tire

I used this alone as my PSF previously in May 2011

So I just use a turkey baster to remove as much fluid as I can?

I'll replace it with one bottle of the Lucas and this Prestone Power Steering Fluid??

Prestone Power Steering Fluid, 3.78 L | Canadian Tire


If I get nothing from this maybe change the:

belt?

Belt Polyvee (Part # ERR6898) - Serpentine Belt For Discovery II



idler pulleys/tensioner?

Land Rover Belt Tensioner Kit: Discovery 2 And Range Rover P38



What is this part? Worth trying...?

1999-2004 Discovery II Power Steering Pump Pulley



If this doesn't fix it then it's probably the pump?

1999-2004 Discovery II Power Steering Pump

What happens when this fails when I'm out and about?

(for parts and fluids don't forget I'm in Canada with limited access to many things... although free healthcare! haha)


Thanks!!

 

Please keep us updated! I have the exact same chewy wine when I am turning and it gets louder if I turn AND accelerate harder. I took off my serp belt when replacing my water pump and it sounded like my idler pulley's were loud when I spun them with my hand. I was hoping it might just be the pulley and tensioner kit to fix this. Curious to see how your process goes along.