Rep Power: 0

Hi all:

I was hoping for some input/advice on a noise I've been hearing on my '03 - I've been hearing a bumping type of noise or a very light thud - that's the best I can describe it - when I make a turn above 15mph or so, or hit a rough spot in the road. Not always, but more often than not - it was quiet for the past couple of days, but started up again tonight. I had the car at a local garage, and the only thing they could tell me was that it looked like a boot had fallen off the driver's side - which is where the noise seems to be generalized. I immediately asked if this was the CV boot, and was told no, it was just something to keep"water from getting splashed into the engine". My knowledge of mechanics is close to nothing, but thought I'd run that by the more experienced people here before taking the car elsewhere for another opinion.

The pictures enclosed - not great as I was shooting at night into the wheel well - kinda show the boot on the passenger side still intact, while the second shows the driver's side missing a boot.

So, can anyone clue me into what exactly I'm looking at, here? And perhaps, how big a mess, if any, that I'm in for re fixing this? The car's handling remains great, but I figure that might possibly go south in a hurry, and would like to avoid that.

Thanks for any assistance!

 
Rep Power: 519

Your pics: those have no covers. It is supposed to be open and exposed as you see it.

Our maybe I can't tell what exactly you are looking at.

 
Rep Power: 0

My apologies - I have to shoot some pics in the daylight. As best I can describe it now, the boot's that visible on the second shot (the passenger side) isn't there on the driver's side.

 
Rep Power: 519

I'm looking at it on a phone, what I see is the end of the steering gear...looked correct to me. Find another 7th gen car to compare with. (go to Wal-Mart parking lot LOL)

The opening where the tie rod pokes through the inner fender is not supposed to have any covers

But again, I'm on a phone.

 
Rep Power: 0

Maybe this will give a better idea of what I was trying to get a pic of:

 
Rep Power: 519

See if this helps

From another thread in this site, 01-05 Civic steering rack pic:



No boot on the drivers end

 
Rep Power: 0

Gotcha, many thanks, ezone! That was indeed a help