Chrysler Repair: Droning sound at very cold startup:01 Chrysler Van, power steering hose, chrysler voyager

Question
Has been stumping local mechanics. When left out in the cold for a long
period, my Chrysler Voyager will make a loud, droning noise upon start that
sounds much like someone slowly cranking a firehouse alarm. This last appr.
10-20 seconds, then goes away and never comes back until the next
morning's start - and only when its cold out. A BREAKTHROUGH: I can get the
noise to immediately damper/cut out by turning the steering wheel back and
forth. DO YOU THINK ITS THE POWER STEERING PUMP?

Answer
Hi Gary,
I think you that you have located the system which is making the noise, now which part is the question. More likely it is the pump and the possibilities are:
low fluid level, power steering hose touching the body or frame, extreme wear of pump internal parts. After checking the fluid level see if any hoses are touching the body or frame. I would doubt that the pump has worn internal parts so soon. In any case, if you take a piece of rubber tubing and use it like an ear horn you may be able to locate where the sound is coming from exactly in that system. If you need fluid don't use trans fluid but rather a Chrysler approved power steering pump fluid. I suspect that one of these possibilities is the answer to your question.
Roland