So is this a ruined power steering pump?

"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
09/15/2015 at 21:38 • Filed to: None

No visible leaks, no fluid on the driveway, and I replaced the coupler o-ring as per the TSB that affected practically every honda made beteen 2005 and 2008.

As you can see, lots of air in the system and one hell of a noise.

DISCUSSION (15)

MM54 > Chairman Kaga
09/15/2015 at 21:41

With the front of the car off the ground, start it (keep the cap off the resivoir) and turn the wheels lock to lock a few times. It’s an easy way to bleed the system. If it’s still got problems, I’m not sure what to tell you ( know very little [factual information] about Hondas)

JGrabowMSt > Chairman Kaga
09/15/2015 at 21:46

Have you had the car a long time? That honestly sounds like the pump ran for significant lengths with little or no fluid.

Could be a problem with a seal in the rack, possible an inner tie rod boot is hiding your leak, but it wont hide it for too long...

whoarder is tellurium > Chairman Kaga
09/15/2015 at 21:50

If you’ve got a hand operated vacuum pump and the right rubber fitting, you can pull a small vacuum on the reservoir opening while someone turns the wheel back and forth (as MM54 said below). That helped me once in a situation I had with an Accord.

Chairman Kaga > JGrabowMSt
09/15/2015 at 21:53

I’ve had it for 2 years. It’s always been a little noisy, and once about a year ago burped up a significant amount of fluid. But I’d always check the level whenever I did any maintenance, and it was never low.

Would the fact that it was flat-towed behind an RV prior to my owning it have any effect? It made its way around the country being dragged behind a Jayco Seneca for many years prior to ending up in my driveway.

Chairman Kaga > whoarder is tellurium
09/15/2015 at 21:54

I have the pump but probably not anything that would make a suitable fitting. I’ll need to dig in the box o’ Alfa parts.

crowmolly > MM54
09/15/2015 at 21:55

This, but from my experience it was more than a few times. 25+ or so.

Sounds like a lot of air.

JGrabowMSt > Chairman Kaga
09/15/2015 at 22:21

If anything, flat towing would affect differentials and trans, not power steering, not that I know of.

Something may be wrong with the steering rack or something else, it should be a pretty quiet running system overall. That much noise is a concern, pump, rack or lines, there’s a problem somewhere. Next major service, I might even consider replacing the rack and pump....lines should be fine, but I had a lot of power steering issues in well below freezing weather in the Magnum. Turned out my power steering cooler was the issue, but that’s just finally being sorted out now that the car is off the road temporarily for other maintenance.

Just sucks having to throw that much money at it. I would look for a re-manufactured rack and a new pump. Pumps aren’t terribly expensive, but the steering rack can be a few hundred, plus you’ll need an alignment once it’s done.

Chairman Kaga > JGrabowMSt
09/15/2015 at 22:24

Awesome. Thanks for the info! I get the feeling it’s probably beyond my ability to resolve, since it’s my DD and I don’t have the luxury of taking weeks to sort it out.

JGrabowMSt > Chairman Kaga
09/15/2015 at 22:34

No problem. Getting the power steering rack off a car is the hardest part. Fitting a new one is cake comparatively. Certainly not a “weeks long” project, at worst, maybe a weekend. I nearly dropped my rack a couple weekends ago, but I couldn’t get the bolts free and was pretty tired to begin with so I had to cut my losses and leave it be, but it’s a lot simpler than it looks. For reference, the steering rack on the magnum is held on with two bolts. Once those two bolts are off, it’s just the tie rods and fluid lines attached. Pretty simple, all things considered.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Chairman Kaga
09/15/2015 at 22:46

What works best for me is turning the steering wheel back and forth 15+ times before starting the engine after doing repairs. It might be best to let it settle over night at this point to let the fluid de-foam. Then, when you get back to it make sure the fluid is at a good level before starting it, and turn the wheel lock to lock a bunch of times after starting it all while monitoring the fluid level.

Chairman Kaga > JGrabowMSt
09/16/2015 at 17:09

Yep. It’s the rack.

Chairman Kaga > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
09/17/2015 at 11:01

Shop confirmed the rack is leaking at the tie rods. Endemic to the ‘08 CRV, apparently. $1150 including parts.

Whee.

Chairman Kaga > crowmolly
09/17/2015 at 11:01

Shop confirmed the rack is leaking at the tie rods. Endemic to the ‘08 CRV, apparently. $1150 including parts.

Whee.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Chairman Kaga
09/17/2015 at 15:37

Ouch. Sorry to hear that.

brianbrannon > Chairman Kaga
09/21/2015 at 23:36

Make sure the return hose clamps are the wire type and are super tight. They let air in the system. It might buy you some time before you have to replace the rack