2000 Accord – 4 cylinders – steering makes a noise and feels funny

[FromLongIsland]

Hi,
For the past few weeks when car is cold in the morning and started for the first time and driven within 2 minutes, for the first minute or so, steering the car has a funny feeling and makes an unusual noise!!!
While in an oil-change shop, the kid there said I may be looking at a “rack and pinion” job?
Someone else said it might be the belts!
I have checked the fluid and it is at the maximum level.

Any idea what this might be?

Thank you.

[Gmtech425]

how cold does it get, u might have luck flushing your fluid and using cold climate power steering fluid , up in wisconsin this solves alot of these same problems, exspecialy if it goes away when it warms up.

[FromLongIsland]

well, I am in Long Island NY and it has been around 40s to 60s for the past few weeks.
I suppose this can be done before replacing any parts.
Thank you.