whenever my car is cold(not warmed up yet) and i turn the steering wheel it makes a strange noise. is this a sign of the rack going bad?

could you elaborate on "strange?"

is it a squeal? a groan? etc?

a squeal typically indicates a slipping belt, which happens more often in cold weather.
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Chris
96 ESI 5 spd
Milwaukee, WI

its not necessarily cold weather, just when the car is not warmed up. Its kinda like a grindy noise. maybe like the ps pump trying to pump, but no fluid to pump, even though its full.

Sure it's not a "whiniy" sort of noise? I remember back when I lived in the cold, ever morning when the car was cold, as you turned the wheel, you could hear a little whistle or whine as the wheel turned. Sounded like it was inside the dash or in the column itself. I've heard manypeople had that going on. No problems from it.

Now if the the sound is a squeal coming from under the hood, it's most likely a belt, bu tyou knew that.

If it's a grinding sort of noise that sounds closer, but down low towards the floor, it might be something in the steering mechanism since it's right at the base of the firewall on the engine side. If this was acting up though, I bet you would see turning problems.

Good luck sir!